ADVOCATE-GENERAL

Devolution

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Advocate General what devolution issues have been raised with her since 27 April.

Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh).

SCOTLAND

Energy Supplies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the security of energy supplies in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: The Government are committed to maintaining the security and reliability of energy supplies in the UK.

Asylum Seekers

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) Glasgow city council with regard to support for asylum seekers.

Anne McGuire: Scotland Office officials and I have regular contact with the Home Office, the Scottish Executive and also Glasgow city council regarding the support of asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.

Ferry Subsidies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed with (a) representatives of the Scottish Executive and (b) ministerial colleagues subsidies to ferry services.

Anne McGuire: Regular discussions are undertaken on a wide range of issues with the Scottish Executive and ministerial colleagues.

Postal Services

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Post Offices have closed in Scotland over the last three years.

Anne McGuire: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that closure numbers in Scotland, over the last three years for which data are available, are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Year ending March 2001 63 
			 Year ending March 2002 26 
			 Year ending March 2003 20

Economic Performance

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the performance of the Scottish economy.

Alistair Darling: The recent performance of the Scottish economy offers grounds for encouragement. The labour market continues to improve, with employment at its highest level since records began in 1992 1 and unemployment around its lowest level since the 1970s. Interest rates and inflation are historically low. The Scottish Executive's GDP index, recently revised to better reflect real changes in the economy, shows that growth in Scotland has closely matched that of the UK in recent years. Business surveys are pointing to a continued strengthening of business activity in Scotland in both services and manufacturing and independent forecasters predict that growth will continue to be above-trend in 2004 and 2005. But there is no room for complacency. The Government and Scottish Executive recognise that Scotland's growth has been lower over the long-term than the UK average. They have each taken steps to promote productivity and build a more enterprising, innovative and highly skilled economy.
	1 Data prior to 1992 are not yet consistent with this series, though are scheduled to be available in revised form later this year.

Electoral Systems

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the independent commission on electoral systems in Scotland (a) to begin and (b) to report on its work.

Alistair Darling: I am pleased to announce that Professor Sir John Arbuthnott has agreed to be chairman of the Commission on Boundary Differences and Voting Systems. Sir John was Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde for nine years until 2000, and is currently chairman of the Greater Glasgow NHS Board. Membership of the Commission will be announced shortly.
	The Commission will start work as soon as possible, and will be expected to complete its work in around 18 months.

Public Expenditure

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on levels of public spending per capita in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: The Treasury published "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2004" on 19 April, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Tables 8.2 and 8.4 detail total identifiable public expenditure per head for each country and region of the UK.

Regional Air Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scottish Executive to discuss the provision of public service obligations on regional air services.

Alistair Darling: I discuss a wide range of issues with Scottish Executive Ministers. Following on from the White Paper, discussions between the Scottish Executive and the Department for Transport are on-going and have contributed to a consultation paper on interpreting the criteria required for imposing PSOs. This will be published shortly.

Transport

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received regarding transport issues in Scotland.

Alistair Darling: I receive representations on a wide range of Scottish issues.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Draft Bills

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Leader of the House how many Bills have been introduced as draft Bills.

Phil Woolas: In the current Session, six draft Bills have been published so far.
	Figures for draft Bills for previous Sessions since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  Draft bills Sets of draft clauses 
		
		
			 1997–98 3  
			 1998–99 6  
			 1999–2000 6  
			 2000–01 2  
			 2001–02 6  
			 2002–03 9 1

Visitors

Peter Pike: To ask the Leader of the House what proposals he is putting to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons to help schools outside of London and the South East of England with the costs of parliamentary visits.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend's view is that, while assistance with the cost of school visits is an option that the House of Commons Commission might wish to consider, the priority is to make a substantial improvement to the learning resources we provide via the parliamentary website. We have some 7,500 educational visitors a year—a figure which I hope we can increase significantly and a further 36,000 schoolchildren visit on constituency tours; but it will always be a minority of schoolchildren who are able to visit in person.
	In contrast to the number of visitors to Parliament, during the 2002–03 financial year the Parliament website had 14.6 million hits. This shows that the number of people who might make use of the website is limitless.

Participation (Debates)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to make proposals to enable more hon. Members to participate in debates.

Phil Woolas: In its response to the Procedure Committee's report on Procedures for Debates, Private Members' Bills and the Powers of the Speaker (published last week in the Committee's Second Special Report of this Session, HC 610), the Government hasindicated that it supports the Committee's recommendation that, on an experimental basis, there should be an opportunity for an hour, or half-hour, of shorter Back Bench speeches before the wind-up speeches on occasions when the Speaker thinks it appropriate. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will table a motion that allows the House to decide, when it debates the Committee's report, whether this experiment should go forward.

Sitting Hours

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations he has received on the working hours of the House of Commons.

Peter Hain: In addition to the representations I described to the House on 27 April, Official Report, 27 April 2004, column 749, Members continue to raise this matter with me, from time to time—and, of course, I have read with interest the results of the Procedure Committee's Sitting Hours Questionnaire which is to be considered by the Modernisation Committee.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Supreme Court

George Osborne: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress the Secretary of State has made in identifying a site for the proposed Supreme Court.

Christopher Leslie: Good progress is being made in evaluating a shortlist of potential locations for a new Supreme Court, but at this stage, in order to protect the procurement interests of the taxpayer, it would be unwise to disclose publicly which sites are under consideration.

Legal Services

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on proposals for reform of the legal professions.

David Lammy: The Government have commissioned an independent review of the regulatory framework for legal services, aimed at promoting transparency and competition in the legal services sector. Sir David Clementi is due to present his report by the end of this year.

Courthouse (Colchester)

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Lord Chancellor will attend the official start of building of the new courthouse in Colchester.

Christopher Leslie: A new magistrates' courthouse in Colchester is planned to open in 2008. Any decisions on who might attend the start of building works will be made nearer the time, which we expect to be mid 2006.

Justices of the Peace

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Department of Constitutional Affairs how many justices of the peace there are in England and Wales; and what the corresponding figure was for 1990.

Christopher Leslie: Our records show that, at the beginning of this financial year, there were 28,705 Justices of the Peace in England and Wales. In 1990, there were 28,677 Justices of the Peace in post.

Legal Aid

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on legal aid for immigration and nationality cases in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04.

David Lammy: Immigration and nationality legal help cases cost £35 million in 1997–98 and £203 million in 2003–04. The figure for 2003–04 is still subject to end of year adjustment.

Legal Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have received legal aid in Greater London in the last seven years; and what the criteria are for eligibility for legal aid.

David Lammy: It is estimated that the number of acts of assistance, in thousands, in the London region, over the last seven years, was as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–1998 638 
			 1998–1999 614 
			 1999–2000 622 
			 2000–2001 578 
			 2001–2002 507 
			 2002–2003 486 
			 2002–2004 462 
		
	
	Those figures are for acts of assistance and are indicative though not necessarily the same as the number of people receiving legal aid.
	Since April 2000 civil cases receive funding on the basis of meeting the financial means and legal merits criteria contained in the Legal Services Commission's Funding Code.
	Representation is granted in criminal cases where the court considers it is in the interests of justice. Generally speaking that is where the offence is so serious that the accused could go to prison.

Legal Aid

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the availability of legal aid in domestic violence cases.

David Lammy: Domestic violence proceedings are a priority area for legal aid funding. The Legal Services Commission's Funding Code criteria for funding domestic violence cases are wider than for most other family and non-family areas. At present those who need financial assistance are able to obtain legal aid to go to court.

Freedom of Information Act

Simon Hughes: To ask the Parliamentary under Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs by what date all the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will be in force; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Act will be fully implemented by January 2005, 11 months before the deadline set out in the Act itself.

House of Lords Reform

Tony Wright: To ask the Parliamentary under Secretary of State Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects to bring forward further proposals to reform the second Chamber.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are determined to proceed with further reform of the House of Lords and intends to develop proposals for its party manifesto.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Bribery

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 1W, which were the other two countries referred to in her answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report,column 613W, to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas).

Harriet Harman: The originating countries of these requests were Bosnia and Norway.

Criminal Cases Review (Angela Cannings Judgment)

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General what arrangements for expedition have been made with the Criminal Cases Review Commission in respect of convictions reviewed following the Angela Cannings case and forwarded to it with a view to a reference to the court of appeal.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General and the Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission met at an early stage in the review of infant homicide convictions following the Angela Cannings appeal to discuss the expedition of cases referred to the CCRC. The CCRC has agreed to expedite any cases referred to it as part of the review process.
	In those cases where the convicted person is notified that there may be features in the case which warrant further consideration by the Court of Appeal or CCRC a copy of the letter is sent to each of the above bodies so that arrangement can be made for an early consideration of the case. The letter also offers to speed the process of referral by bringing the case to the attention of the CCRC in appropriate cases by forwarding the case papers where the convicted offender is in agreement to that.

Criminal Cases Review (Angela Cannings Judgment)

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General how many defendants whose cases are yet to be reviewed following the Angela Cannings case are serving custodial sentences.

Harriet Harman: As at 19 May 2004, 176 cases remain to be reviewed. Of those, 16 are shown to be cases where the offender is still serving a custodial sentence, according to Home Office lists. Those cases are being accorded the highest priority in the review process.

Criminal Cases Review (Angela Cannings Judgment)

Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor-General when she expects the review process following the Angela Cannings case to be completed.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. and learned Member to the Attorney-General's statement on 5 May 2004.

Illegal Arms Trade (Nuclear Weapons)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made towards the prosecution of individuals and companies for the offence of assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas, in particular for developing, producing or participating in the development or production of a nuclear weapon; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Investigation and prosecution of offences involving assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas is the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise. However, Customs cannot comment on whether a matter is under current investigation; Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Open Government Code applies.
	Customs have an important role in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They work closely with other Government Departments and agencies, in the UK and overseas, to ensure that effective action is taken against proliferators.
	Any prosecution for such offences require the consent of the Attorney-General.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Energy Efficiency

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with local authorities on improving energy efficiency measures pursuant to the Sustainable Energy Act 2003.

Elliot Morley: No discussions have taken place with local authorities pursuant to the Sustainable Energy Act 2003.
	"Energy Efficiency The Government's Plan for Action", published in April 2004, sets out the steps the Government intend to take at the local level. (http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm61/6168/6168.pdf)

Energy Efficiency

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the target for energy efficiency savings to 2010 from households has been lowered in the energy efficiency saving plan.

Elliot Morley: In "Energy Efficiency: The Government's Plan for Action" the Government set out their aim to deliver savings in households of 4.2 million tonnes of carbon per annum by 2010. The figure of 5 million tonnes of carbon in the Energy White Paper was an initial indication of what might be delivered. This projection has been revised as the Government have obtained more up-to-date information and completed more detailed analysis on the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency policies and measures in this sector. The change in carbon savings in households reflects the fact that:
	growth in demand for insulation may be slower than originally envisaged;
	'comfort taking' (after the installation of measures) may be higher in 2010 than previously thought, and
	future savings from more efficient lighting are expected come more from lower wattage lamps in lower-use fittings.
	Latest revisions of projected carbon savings from other sectors more than offset this recalculation. The Action Plan sets out how the Government aim to cut carbon emissions by 12 million tonnes of carbon per annum by 2010 through energy efficiency over the next six years. This is 20 per cent. more than the 10 million tonnes of carbon per annum by 2010 we said we expected to achieve in the Energy White Paper a year ago.

Energy Efficiency

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Manchester have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency and Warm Front Schemes.

Elliot Morley: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front. Between the launch of the scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2004, approximately 10,540 households in Manchester received assistance from the scheme. For each constituency in Manchester, the approximate breakdown of households assisted was:
	
		
			 Constituency Number 
		
		
			 Manchester, Blackley 3,400 
			 Manchester, Central 2,900 
			 Manchester, Gorton 3,180 
			 Manchester, Withington 1,060

Energy Efficiency

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in Blackpool, South have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency and Warm Front Schemes.

Elliot Morley: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front. Between the launch of the scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2004, approximately 5,900 households in Blackpool, South received assistance from the scheme.

Energy Efficiency

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in the constituency of Huntingdon have benefited from the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is now marketed as Warm Front. Between the launch of the scheme in June 2000 and the end of March 2004, approximately 550 households in Huntingdon received assistance from the Scheme.

Bovine TB

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what predictive modelling has been applied to the possible application of the Bovigam gamma interferon test to control bovine TB under different bovine TB scenarios in the UK, usingBovigam's known levels of specificity and sensitivity.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1997, DEFRA has commissioned two studies to evaluate the costs and benefits of using the Bovigam gamma interferon test to control bovine TB under different bovine TB scenarios in Great Britain. In carrying out the two economic assessments, predictive modelling was used to determine the likely outcomes under different bovine TB scenarios. The models used values for the specificity and sensitivity of the gamma interferon test published in the scientific literature from overseas field trials.
	Project SE3018 investigated whether it would be cost-effective to use the gamma interferon test in herds with multiple tuberculin reactor animals. As the gamma interferon test is considered more sensitive than the skin test, its use in infected herds could improve the detection of tuberculous cattle. This would hasten the elimination of infection from herds and reduce the spread of infection among herds. However, this benefit has to be weighed against the extra cost that would result from the unnecessary slaughter of more non-tuberculous cattle due to the lower specificity of the gamma interferon test.
	Project TD0604 investigated whether it would be cost-effective to use the gamma interferon test to resolve the tuberculosis status of herds in which only inconclusive reactor animals are detected at a routine herd test.
	Final reports on these projects were submitted to Defra in April 2002 and November 1998, respectively.

Bovine TB

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what protocol her Department is using to examine post mortem cattle that are slaughtered in the Bovigam gamma interferon trial; and whether the protocol is the same as those used in other countries.

Ben Bradshaw: All animals (including those slaughtered from herds included in the gamma interferon (g-IFN) field trial) undergo standard post-mortem inspection in the slaughterhouse or other suitable facility, by Meat Hygiene Service and/or State Veterinary Service officials, depending upon local arrangements.
	I am unaware of the particular post-mortem protocols applied in other countries, but assume standard meat inspections will be carried out on any g-IFN positive animals slaughtered as part of TB control programmes.

Bovine TB

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response her Department made to the proposal of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB to undertake a field trial of the Bovigam gamma-interferon test.

Ben Bradshaw: We sympathise with the desire of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) to maximise the science return of the gamma-interferon field pilot. However, implementing the ISG's proposals would present logistical difficulties, as well as raising complicated ethical and legal issues around identifying disease but not informing the herd owner, and taking samples from animals for experimental purposes rather than for the diagnosis of disease. It would also call for considerable additional resource.

Cattle

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost there will be to farmers from the cattle passports scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The direct cost of running the cattle tracing system in Great Britain will be in the region of £23 million in 2005–6.

Cattle

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of the British Cattle Movement Service and (b) delays in processing records from farmers.

Alun Michael: The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) operates against published service targets and reports against these both to the Bovine Industry Group (made up of farmers' representatives and others in the cattle business) and to the BCMS Management Board (made up of Government Stakeholders).
	In the first quarter of this year BCMS issued 100 per cent. of passports followingreceipt of a valid and complete application within five working days.
	Recently, the BCMS issued its first transaction statement to keepers that brought in over 68,000 returns allowing over 500,000 queries raised by the BCMS to be resolved.

Climate Change Levy

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the renegotiation of agreed energy saving targets contained in the climate change levy; and what assessment she has made of the effects on the future competitiveness of UK salt manufacturers.

Elliot Morley: The Climate Change Agreements are agreements with energy intensive industry through which participants pay a reduced rate of climate change levy in return for meeting challenging energy efficiency targets between 2002 and 2010. The agreements require that DEFRA review the sector targets in both 2004 and 2008 to ensure that all future milestone targets continue to represent the potential for cost effective energy savings, taking account of any changes in technical or market circumstances.
	Targets are to be renegotiated with DEFRA at sector level and each sector association is then responsible for proposing how that sector target variation will be applied to underlying agreements. Negotiations with sector associations are now under way. There has been no assessment of the effects on UK salt manufacturers. Sector associations are able to put forward any information regarding changes to market circumstances in the course of these negotiations, and to take into account issues of competitiveness in proposing the variations to be made to underlying targets.

Coastal Erosion

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had in the last six months with (a) the National Farmers Union, (b) the Country Land and Business Association and (c) the Tenant Farmers' Association on coastal erosion and coastal protection.

Margaret Beckett: None.

Coastal Erosion

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had in the last six months with (a) English Heritage, (b) the National Trust and (c) the Council for the Care of Churches on the threat to historic buildings from coastal erosion.

Margaret Beckett: None.

Common Agricultural Policy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the new schemes set up under Common Agricultural Policy reform will be simpler to administer; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Under the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which the Secretary of State announced on 6 June 2003, some 10 direct support schemes will cease and decoupled payment to farmers will be made under one integrated Single Payment Scheme. This is a significant simplification for farmers and administrators.At the same time, the Rural Payments Agency is implementing a modernisation of its working practices, including replacement of IT systems as part of a co-ordinated Change Programme. This will allow significant benefits to farmers and to the taxpayers as part of a simpler process for handling, validating and paying customers and in streamlining application procedures.

Dredging (Essex)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sediment has been dredged as a result of licences issued for (a) foreshore dredging and (b) estuary dredging from the Essex coast and estuaries in each of the last 30 years.

David Jamieson: This information is not available centrally.

Emissions

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on behalf of the UK motor industry regarding the energy costs of Government policy on reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Elliot Morley: Responses to the 2002 Energy White Paper consultation were received from a broad range of transport sector stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers and trade associations covering most modes of transport.
	More recently, the UK motor industry have been constructively involved in consultation on the National Allocation Plan and in regular contact with the Department throughout the implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Emissions

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of greenhouse gas emissions from aviation in (a) 2008, (b) 2012, (c) 2020, (d) 2030 and (e) 2050, assuming no fiscal or emissions policy changes; and what proportion of total UK greenhouse gas emissions it is estimated that these figures would represent.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows carbon dioxide from aviation for the years 2010 to 2050 as million tonnes carbon per year (MtC/yr) and as a percentage of UK emissions.
	
		Table 1
		
			  MtC/yr Percentage 
		
		
			 2010 11 7.5 
			 2020 15 11.5 
			 2030 17.5 15 
			 2050 17.5 21.5 
		
	
	The entries in the table are consistent with the White Paper, "The Future of Air Transport", published in December 2003. They are rounded to the nearest 0.5 MtC/yr and 0.5 per cent. The percentage is expressed relative to the sum of (i) UK emissions projected to meet a 60 per cent. reduction in UK carbon dioxide emissions as described in the Energy White Paper published in February 2003 (which includes domestic aviation emissions), and (ii) emissions from international aviation associated with departures from UK airports. Aviation emissions are projected to stop rising between 2030 and 2050 due to fuel efficiency improvements anticipated by the Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe (ACARE) and the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The projections do not make assumptions about fiscal or emissions policy changes. Data are not available for the years 2008 and 2012.
	The total effect of aviation on greenhouse gas emissions is likely to be greater than values projected for CO 2 only, mainly because the majority of emissions take place at altitude, which could increase the impact of aviation emissions by 2.5 times the impact of CO 2alone. This radiative forcing factor is subject to uncertainty and could be between two and four times. Taking this into account yields the following estimates for aviation as a proportion of total greenhouse gas emissions:
	
		Table 2
		
			  MtCequiv/yr Percentage 
		
		
			 2010 27 14.5 
			 2020 37.5 21 
			 2030 44.5 26 
			 2050 43.5 32.5 
		
	
	The figures in the second table are expressed in million tonnes of carbon equivalent per year and are rounded as before. The percentage is expressed in terms of total UK greenhouse gas emissions to 2050 assuming CO 2 meets the Energy White Paper target plus aviation CO 2 emissions from Table 2 multiplied by 2.5.

Environmental Liability Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the steps necessary to comply with the EU Environmental Liability Directive.

Alun Michael: The directive is required to be implemented by May 2007. It will be necessary to transpose its requirements into UK law, and appropriate administrative and enforcement measures put in place. As part of this process, the Department will consult with stakeholders to assist identification of the critical issues and to ensure that they have an opportunity to influence decisions that will affect them.

Farming

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the farm income levels for farmers in Cambridgeshire in the last five years.

Alun Michael: Net farm income for farms in Cambridgeshire, the EU East Region and for England over the last five years are show in the table below.
	The fall in incomes for 2002/03 in Cambridgeshire is a reflection of the high proportion of output accounted for by the potato crop on farms in that county compared to the East region in general. In 2002/03 the price of potatoes was low.
	
		Net Farm Income
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire 29,964 17,207 24,827 25,758 13,794 
			 EU East Region 13,190 9,604 11,367 11,997 16,894 
			 England 10,359 7,981 9,886 13,558 16,435 
		
	
	Source:
	Farm Business Survey
	Net farm income is the return to the principal farmer and spouse for their manual and managerial labour and to the tenant-type capital of the business.

Farming

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned to examine alternatives to the use of plastic sheeting used to cover fields and crops in farm production.

Alun Michael: A DEFRA-funded research project is under way to examine the feasibility of using innovative types of physical barriers to assist in crop protection against insect pests. If successful this research will allow for a reduction in the use of plastic mulches and sheeting in vegetable crop production.
	An exercise has also been recently commissioned to look at types of polythene crop covers and mulches used in horticultural production. This will examine the scope for re-use or replacement with sustainable alternatives such as paper, starch or cellulose, which offer easier routes for disposal.

Farming

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was given in farm subsidies to each region of the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

Alun Michael: The figures given below are based on the European Agriculture Guidance & Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) financial years, i.e. 16 October to 15 October. Earlier figures are not available.
	
		£
		
			 Region   EAGGF 2000 EAGGF 2001 EAGGF 2002 EAGGF 2003 
		
		
			 North East 40,050,129.43 37,370,886.64 35,483,680.86 64,980,655.45 
			 North West 92,344,812.66 87,942,065.88 82,485,021.47 64,408,879.73 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 141,359,755.7 0 132,426,384.6 8 121,302,982.7 4 156,415,335.2 3 
			 East Midlands 76,726,571.39 73,270,305.99 70,939,947.40 201,269,620.0 3 
			 West Midlands 144,171,286.3 5 136,276,269.0 4 126,245,295.9 3 118,328,138.8 0 
			 East of England 295,741,837.7 7 322,832,075.2 6 156,649,435.5 5 247,015,083.5 7 
			 London 3,576,189.62 3,475,194.34 2,045,673.95 2,933,818.91 
			 South East 117,465,773.7 4 110,603,194.3 4 98,589,082.77 163,282,273.0 2 
			 South West 466,686,008.3 2 447,496,249.9 4 127,052,633.5 1 204,787,183.3 1 
		
	
	North East
	The increased expenditure in EAGGF year 2003 was mainly due to the Cereals, Suckler Cow and Beef Special Premium schemes.
	North West
	The downturn of expenditure in EAGGF year 2003 relates to the Cereals and Set Aside food schemes.
	Yorkshire and The Humber
	The upturn in costs for EAGGF year 2003 was mainly in Cereals.
	East Midlands
	The sizeable increase in EAGGF year 2003 occurred in the Cereals, Oilseeds, Proteins, Set Aside Food and Slaughter Premium schemes.
	East of England
	For EAGGF year 2003 the increase is in the Cereals scheme.
	South East
	The increased expenditure in EAGGF year 2003 is in the Cereals, Oilseeds, Proteins and Set Aside Food schemes.
	South West
	In the EAGGF year 2002 the decrease in expenditure was mainly in Cereals, Oilseeds, Proteins, Set Aside Food, Suckler Cow and Beef Special Premium schemes.
	In the EAGGF year 2003 there are increases in Cereals, Set Aside Food,
	Suckler Cow, Beef Special Premium and Slaughter Premium schemes.

Farming

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the rate of take-up of training of farmers at entry level under the modulation scheme.

Alun Michael: The pilot Entry Level Scheme is an agri-environment scheme that provides payment for good land management. The scheme is being piloted in four areas in England and has proved popular with farmers with a total of 271 agreements that started in August 2003. The Government has announced its intention to roll out the Entry Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme across England, as part of the England Rural Development Programme, using funding generated through modulation.
	There is a separate Vocational Training Scheme, which is also part of the England Rural Development Programme. Under current ED rules, it does not involve modulation funding. Under that scheme, DEFRA has funded over 12,500 farmers to undertake training courses, involving over 30,000 training days, up to 31 March 2004. For the whole of the period of the programme (to the end of 2006), DEFRA has so far committed funding to over 7,500 courses, covering 73,000 training days, for participants in the farming and forestry sectors.

Farming

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initial consideration the Government are giving to agricultural support and subsidies for farmers beyond 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The UK played a pivotal role in securing agreement to major reforms to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy over the past year, which will help farmers focus their production on market demand, reduce environmental damage and reduce the damaging impact of EU subsidies on developing countries.
	Over the longer term we want to see this progress towards a sustainable subsidy system completed in line with the objectives set out in our Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy. That means addressing remaining barriers to a market driven industry, such as those that still exist in the dairy sector, seeing a greater proportion of expenditure directed towards environmental and rural development measures, which provide real public benefits, and, at an international level, reducing further the damaging impact of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies, through the World Trade Organisation's Doha Development Agenda.
	We also want to see CAP expenditure contained within limits that are consistent with our objectives for controlled EU expenditure as a whole.

Farming

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in Cumbria will be classified as being in a severely disadvantaged area when the single farm payment is introduced.

Alun Michael: It is not possible to give a precise answer at the present time as entitlements to subsidy under the new single payment scheme will be allocated on the basis of claims made by farmers in 2005. However based on Integrated Administration and Control System scheme applications in 2003, the latest information currently available, 40 per cent. of holdings registered for IACS in Cumbria, 1,705 out of 4,235 farmers, have the majority of their land within the severely disadvantaged area.

Farming

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she estimates the difference in average payment in Cumbria would be if the lower rate of subsidy for land currently classed as a severely disadvantaged area (SDA) were applied only to those farms currently in the hill farm allowance scheme instead of the whole SDA.

Alun Michael: It is not possible to give definitive answers at the present time as entitlements under the new single payment scheme will be allocated on the basis of claims made by farmers in 2005. However from previous claim data, the majority of land claimed in the severely disadvantaged area in Cumbria, also receive hill farm allowance payment.

Farming

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of livestock in Cumbria will be classed as being in a severely disadvantaged area from 2005.

Alun Michael: The proportion of livestock in a severely disadvantaged area in Cumbria in 2005 will depend upon decisions made by farmers in that year. For single payment scheme purposes, the Department will not seek to class animals as being in a particular area in 2005 as that is not relevant to the number or value of entitlements that farmers are allocated. It will be necessary to determine the value of payments made to farmers under existing CAP livestock schemes in the 2000–02 reference period. But, the allocation of this 'historical' element to entitlements held by farmers in one region or another will not affect the total value of subsidy that those farmers receive.

Fertilisers

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to make the regulations for (a) the manufacture and (b) the supply of ammonium nitrate fertiliser more stringent;
	(2)what measures her Department and its predecessors have taken to control the manufacture, storage and use of ammonium nitrate fertiliser;
	(3)how many tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser was manufactured in the United Kingdom in each year since 2000.

Alun Michael: The Government have taken a number of measures to control the manufacture, storage and use of Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser in the general climate of heightened security. We need to balance the risks of potential misuse associated with AN against its clear and proven benefits in supporting food output in this country.
	The Government have been working with the fertiliser industry to improve controls in the storage and supply chain of AN. We have endorsed industry guidelines which advise producers and sellers of AN fertiliser to:
	sell only to known, bone fide customers, in particular those who have a credit account;
	refrain from making cash sales;
	ask questions to potential buyers of AN fertiliser to establish their knowledge of agriculture;
	in the case of suspicious inquiries, to record and notify the police of the purchaser's name and address (verified by documentary proof such as details from a driving licence) and full details of the inquirer's vehicle, including the registration number.
	We are continuing our dialogue with industry and have asked them to produce a code of practice to encourage direct deliveries from manufacturers to farmers to shorten supply chains and ensure better traceability. We have also endorsed industry guidance, produced in collaboration with farmers unions and the police, on "Security of Fertiliser Storage on Farm".
	To supplement the voluntary measures, DEFRA has introduced regulations to control the supply of both home produced and imported AN. The regulations require AN fertiliser, with a high nitrogen content, including mixtures, to have satisfied a Detonation Resistance Test and all sellers have to maintain records of sales.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a self-help checklist to all those known to be handling or storing significant quantities of AN. The checklist has been distributed widely. It is aimed at spreading good practice and offering HSE as a source of further advice. Additionally, HSE has lowered the notification threshold under the Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1982 from 500 to 150 tonnes and widened the range of products to be included in the notifications.
	The regulations governing the manufacture and supply of AN fertilisers are kept under continuous review and further measures will be taken if necessary.
	There are only two companies manufacturing AN fertiliser in the UK. It would not be appropriate to release production figures as it would enable each company to identify the manufacturing output of their competitor and would therefore breach commercial confidentiality.

Landfill Tax

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the revenue from landfill tax as a result of the diversion of catering waste from pig swill to landfill since the ban on swill feed was implemented.

Elliot Morley: No estimates have been made of the revenue from landfill tax resulting from the diversion of catering waste from pig swill to landfill.

Water Quality Standards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the impact on water quality in Aylesbury of the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is working with Thames Water to ensure that water quality standards are maintained in Aylesbury in the light of development planned in the draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy.

Orchards

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken (a) to protect orchards and (b) to ensure that fruit varieties do not become extinct.

Alun Michael: The conservation of traditional orchards is funded through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and fruit varieties are protected in the National Fruit Collection.

Parliamentary Answers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy not to despatch one page parliamentary answers in large heavy-duty envelopes.

Alun Michael: I was not aware that officials were despatching one page parliamentary answers in large heavy duty envelopes. I have today asked officials to ensure that the hon. Members one page parliamentary answers are placed in an appropriately sized envelope.

Parliamentary Answers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 19 April, Official Report, column 152W, on secondees from outside organisations working in her Department, in which Answers to Parliamentary Questions (a) Joanna Enright of Ashursts and (b) Nader Bahri of Powergen were involved in the drafting process.

Alun Michael: The Department has been careful not to involve either Joanna Enright or Dr Nader Bahri in the preparation of PQ answers where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.

Pesticides

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date she expects to make her announcement of pesticide buffer zones.

Alun Michael: Officials have reported to Ministers and the evidence and the implications of any decision are currently being considered. Our priority is to ensure that the right decision is made and I will make a statement as soon as possible.

PFI Projects

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what role her Department has played in ensuring that private finance initiative projects create the minimum of environmental damage;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of (a) the (i) sustainability and (ii) environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects and (b) the effectiveness of the PFI process in delivering environmentally sustainable projects;
	(3)  what role her Department (a) has and (b) plans to take to make the private finance initiative process more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability;
	(4)  what action her Department has taken to ensure other Government Departments deliver sustainability within private finance initiative projects.

Elliot Morley: In line with the Government's overarching commitment, Departments need to consider all aspects of sustainable development when entering into new PFI/PPP contracts. By taking a long term view, PFI/PPPs require an assessment of whole life costs and can promote a more efficient use of resources.
	In July 2002, the Department together with ODPM, OGC and DfT jointly issued a guidance note, Green Public Private Partnerships, on how to include environmental considerations within PFI and PPP projects. This added to guidance on PFI projects issued by the Treasury and supports commitments being developed under the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.
	The biodiversity and energy sections of the Framework, published in August 2003 and February 2004 respectively, commit all Government Departments to include clauses relating to sustainable development issues in relevant contracts, including PPPs and PFls. It is anticipated that future sections of the framework on waste, estates management and construction, and procurement will include similar provisions. The Framework will be reviewed in 2004–05 and further consideration will be given to how best Departments can take account of sustainable development in future PPPs/PFls contracts. The Department's officials are working closely with officials from OGC in order to ensure that the Framework is fully coordinated with OGC's Achieving Excellence construction procurement guidance, in particular with Achieving Excellence Guide 11: Sustainability, which is currently under development.
	Furthermore, from 1 April 2004 Departments must now explicitly identify any significant environmental and social costs and benefits, as well as economic costs and benefits when carrying out a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). This will cover RIAs carried out on new PFI/PPP projects.

PFI Projects

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contracts awarded to W.S. Atkins by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies since June 2001, broken down by (i) value of the contract and (ii) nature of the work.

Alun Michael: Over the three financial years 2001/02; 2002/03 and 2003/04 core-Defra spent £6,679,742 with W.S. Atkins on facilities management, technical and professional services. Information on the nature of individual contracts cannot be provided as it is not held centrally. The Department is in the process of compiling a central list for the future but this will take some time to complete.
	Information on the value and nature of individual contracts awarded to W.S. Atkins by the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Product Recalls

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Ministers on compulsory insurance for product recall costs; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The decision to recall a product is usually taken by individual companies in conjunction with advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It is for the companies themselves to decide whether to insure against such an eventuality. I have not been involved in any discussions with EU Ministers on compulsory insurance for such product recall costs.
	In relation to animal feed, the Council of Agriculture Ministers has recently adopted an EC Regulation. One of the Articles of this Regulation requires that the European Commission shall prepare a report on the viability of feed business operators having financial guarantees, such as insurance. This would be to provide cover for the total costs for which such operators could be held liable as a direct consequence of the withdrawal, treatment and/or destruction of feed from the market, or animals and food produced therefrom.
	The FSA led the negotiations, so as such, I did not correspond with EU Ministers directly. However, DEFRA was kept fully informed by the FSA of their progress and Defra contributed views to the FSA, including on the issues of financial guarantees.

Rat Control

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to her answer of 5 May 2004, to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell), Official Report, column 1497W, on rats, whether a local authority using the enforcement and monitoring powers she refers to may (a) require a water authority to (i) carry out a programme of sewer baiting and (ii) improve the sewer infrastructure in its area and (b) require a railway authority to (A) maintain embankments to a reasonable standard and (B) clear dumped rubbish and litter on their land on a regular basis, in its area; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In answer to the first part of the question, under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949, a local authority cannot require a sewerage undertaker to carry out a programme of sewer baiting or improve the sewer infrastructure in its area.
	The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 is used by local authorities to require Network Rail, the owner of operational railway land, to maintain lineside and rail property. Local authorities also have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Code of Practice on litter and fly tipping to serve litter abatement notices requiring litter or refuse to be cleared and/or prohibiting land from becoming defaced by litter or refuse. Network Rail clears litter in accordance with the timescales and zones given in the Code of Practice.
	In both cases, local authorities have powers to enforce the duties of the owner or occupier and can use default powers to take those steps specified in a notice and recover any expenses reasonably incurred in doing so.

Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of (a) domestic, (b) commercial and (c) industrial refuse was recycled in (i) Brent, (ii) London and (iii) England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The information is as follows.
	(a) The most recent year's figures for household waste are found in the Municipal Waste Management Survey for 2002–03.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 London Borough of Brent 6.6 
			 London 10.8 
			 England 14.5 
		
	
	(b) and (c) . The most recent year's figures for commercial waste and for industrial waste are found in the Strategic Waste Management Assessment 2000, published by the Environment Agency, relating to figures for 1998–99. The survey collected data from a sample of 20,000 businesses across England and Wales.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Commercial waste  
			 London Borough of Brent Not collected 
			 West London (including Brent) 25.5 
			 Greater London 30.6 
			 England 22.5 
			   
			 Industrial waste  
			 London Borough of Brent Not collected 
			 West London (including Brent) 29.5 
			 Greater London 37.6 
			 England 34

Salt Manufacturers

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposed abolition of the product mix output algorithms in 2008; and what assessment she has made of the effects on the future competitiveness of UK salt manufacturers.

Elliot Morley: The Climate Change Agreements are agreements with energy intensive industry through which participants pay a reduced rate of climate change levy in return for meeting challenging energy efficiency targets between 2002 and 2010. The agreements provide for an adjustment to the targets up to 2006 to take account of changes in product mix and output which can increase the energy used per unit of output. The concession lasts only until 2006 because we enter into the Kyoto period in 2008, the date of the next target assessment. The Government must deliver on their commitment to make absolute reductions on CO 2 emissions in the Kyoto period, and there must be increased certainty of the contribution to be made from each of the UK's Climate Change Programme policies. Parties to Climate Change Agreements should take the energy use implications of changes in products, and how this will affect their ability to meet their targets, into account when making commercial decisions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme is available for companies to buy allowances to meet their targets if they wish to produce more energy intensive products. There has been no assessment of the effects on UK salt manufacturers.

Salt Manufacturers

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the publication of the National Allocation Plan in respect of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme; and what assessment she has made of its effects on the future competitiveness of UK salt manufacturers.

Elliot Morley: The UK submitted its National Allocation Plan (NAP) to the European Commission on 30 April and published it for public consultation on 6 May 2004.
	There are two salt manufactures listed in the UK NAP and they are covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as a result of the combustion facilities on site. Both are classified in the Food and Drink sector, and one is a member of the Chemicals Industry Association.
	The UK NAP acknowledges industry concerns about competitiveness and bases allocations on projected need for sectors open to international competition, including the Food and Drink and Chemicals sectors. Government have involved industry in every stage of the implementation process and have taken concerns over competitiveness on board.

Scottish Power

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met representatives of Scottish Power plc; who was present; and what was on the agenda for discussion.

Elliot Morley: The Secretary of State last met a representative of Scottish Power plc on Thursday 13 May 2004 at a meeting of the Sustainable Development Task Force, of which Scottish Power is a member.
	Scottish Power's representative at this meeting was Fred Dinning, who was attending in the place of Ian Russell, the Chief Executive. Other Task Force members present were from a range of UK Government Departments, the devolved Administration, and external stakeholder bodies. The full membership list is available on the Government's sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk).
	The agenda for discussion included an update on the sustainable development strategy consultation; education for sustainable development; an update on the outcomes of the Twelfth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; and papers on breaking down the barriers for renewable energy. Full details and papers will shortly be available on the website, as well as the note of the meeting in due course.

Severely Disadvantaged Areas

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key), Official Report, column 1025W, on severely disadvantaged areas, whether she has made representations to the European Commission to ensure that British farmers are not penalised if they are unable to meet the 17 May 2004 deadline.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency has not made representation to the European Commission in respect of the 17 May 2004 Integrated Administration and Control System deadline as the circumstances do not justify a derogation to the regulation on this occasion.

Single Farm Payments

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the future profitability of farms following the introduction of the single farm payments scheme.

Alun Michael: The Single Payment will decouple direct subsidies from the type or level of production. This will encourage farmers to respond to market signals rather than produce according to individual subsidy regimes. Decoupling payments from production is expected to lead to higher farm prices and consequently higher farm incomes. Defra economists estimate that overall, UK farm incomes will increase by around 5 per cent. of the forecast Total Income from Farming for 2003. This is an aggregate figure and the change in farm profitability will vary between different farm types and sizes. Further information can be found in the Economic Position of the Farming Industry report published on the Defra website at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/reports/repfi.pdf.

Single Farm Payments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to provide more assistance to (a) owner-occupiers and (b) tenants of small intensive livestock farms after the introduction of single farm payments.

Alun Michael: We have no plans to differentiate payments to reflect the numbers of livestock kept on individual farms. Basing payments on stocking densities would create an incentive to increase production. By freeing up payments from the volume of production, producers will in future be free to meet market needs.

Supermarkets

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that the Office of Fair Trading continues to monitor the economic relationships between food producers and supermarkets; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: We maintain close contact with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on issues that have a bearing on the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers, and in particular on the supermarkets' Code of Practice. As part of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, the OFT has undertaken to continuously monitor the practices of the supermarkets to which the Code applies.

UK Produce

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of honey produced in the UK was for the UK market in the last year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: UK production and supply of honey in 2003 is given in the following table.
	
		UK honey production and supply 2003
		
			  Thousand tonnes 
		
		
			 Production 7.5 
			 Imports(1) 22.0 
			 Exports(1) 1.1 
			 Total supply(2) 28.4 
			 UK production for the UK market as percentage(3) 85.9 
			 UK production as percentage of total supply 26.3 
		
	
	1  Includes artificial honey.
	2  Production plus imports less exports. 3  Production less exports as a percentage of production.

UK Produce

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of (a) apples, (b) pears, (c) strawberries and (d) raspberries grown in the UK was for the UK market in the last year for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: UK production and supply of apples, pears, strawberries and raspberries are given in the following table:
	
		UK production and supplies of selected fruit 2003 -- Thousand tonnes
		
			  Apples Pears Strawberries Raspberries 
		
		
			 Production 123.6 29.6 41.8 8.0 
			 Imports 473.4 116.6 35.9 4.7 
			 Exports 12.5 3.0 0.2 0.0 
			 Total supply(1) 584.5 143.2 77.5 12.7 
			 UK production for the UK market as percentage(2) 89.9 89.9 99.5 99.8 
			 UK production as percentage of total supply 21.1 20.7 53.9 63.1 
		
	
	(1)   Production plus imports less exports.
	(2)   Production less exports as a percentage of production.

Underground Fuel Storage

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what action has been taken to reduce the (a) number and (b) severity of pollution incidents from underground tanks at petrol stations;
	(2)what recent risk assessments have been undertaken of potential oil leakage from underground tanks at petrol stations;
	(3)what estimate she has made of the proportion of underground oil tanks at petrol stations which have (a) double-skinned tanks and (b) remote wetstock monitoring.

Elliot Morley: The "Groundwater Protection Code: Petrol Stations and Fuel Dispensing Underground Storage Tanks", was published by DEFRA in 2002. It sets out a framework of good practice to help petrol station operators to avoid groundwater pollution and comply with the Groundwater Regulations. The Environment Agency has also developed operating agreements with individual petroleum companies that aim to prioritise capital investment based on a common understanding of environmental risk. The Agency will be reviewing the effectiveness of operating agreements piloted with a number of petroleum licensing authorities, in order to improve notification of spills, with a view to extending their use.
	Environmental risk assessments are the responsibility of the operators of petrol stations. The Environment Agency has worked with the UK Petroleum Industry Association to develop a suitable risk assessment technique that is widely available to operators. The Environment Agency has also undertaken a number of pollution prevention visits to high risk petrol stations for the purposes of the Groundwater Regulations.
	Information on double-skinned oil tanks, or remote wetstock monitoring, at petrol stations is not collected and held centrally. However, the Environment Agency, in carrying out its duties to prevent pollution from petrol stations, will consider pollution problems on an individual basis according to the particular risk posed.

Water Metering

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners who would reduce their water bills if they switched to a metered supply.

Elliot Morley: Research was undertaken by Maxwell Stamp consultancy for the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and published in July 1998 ("Incidence Effects of Charging for Domestic Water and Sewerage Services").
	This research showed that, using the standing charges and volumetric charges at that time, 55 per cent. of pensioners would pay less on measured charges, but 45 per cent. would pay more.
	The existence and extent of savings depends on both the quantity of water used and on the alternative unmeasured basis of charging from which the household might change.
	The research informed the Government's decision to introduce the free meter option, which has been of benefit, especially to those in small properties and making least use of water services.

Water Metering

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of pensioners who would reduce their water bills if they switched to a metered supply in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley.

Elliot Morley: Research was undertaken by Maxwell Stamp consultancy for the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and published in July 1998 ("Incidence Effects of Charging for Domestic Water and Sewerage Services").
	This research showed that, using the standing charges and volumetric charges at that time, 55 per cent. of pensioners in England and Wales would pay less on measured charges, but 45 per cent. would pay more.
	Information broken down by county or town is not available.
	The existence and extent of savings depends on both the quantity of water used and on the alternative unmeasured basis of charging from which the household might change.
	The research informed the Government's decision to introduce the free meter option, which has been of benefit, especially to those in small properties and making least use of water services.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

CBRN Substances

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs that may arise from carrying out the decontamination procedures set out in the Strategic National Guidance for the decontamination of buildings and infrastructure exposed to chemical, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) substances or material, issued this month.

Nick Raynsford: The cost of carrying out the procedures set out in the guidance would depend upon the circumstances of the incident. Factors involved would include the nature and extent of contamination; the characteristics of the building or infrastructure affected and the systems, equipment and other contents; the CBRN material involved; the type of surfaces affected; and the particular objectives of the decontamination plan drawn up for the premises concerned.
	In order to provide help and advice to those dealing with decontamination the Government have set up a team to consider the establishment of a national decontamination and recovery service.

Council Tax

Alistair Burt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) clergy and (b) others whose jobs require them to maintain more than one property in relation to (i) exemption from council tax on second homes and (ii) the amelioration of the effects of council tax; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/3011), as amended by the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004 S.I. (2004/926), set out the circumstances in which the 50 per cent. council tax discount on the second home is retained where a person is required to live in job related accommodation. Records of correspondence received by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister do not differentiate between the topics requested and other council tax matters. A precise figure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Planning

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what valid reason local councils may reject proposals made by Government inspectors under PPG10 for major housing development sites; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Regional Planning Guidance for the south west (RPG10) provides a regional spatial strategy within which development plans, including those in Gloucestershire, should be prepared; it sets out a broad development strategy for the period up to 2016 and beyond; and provides the spatial framework for other strategies and programmes. RPG10 should be taken into account by local authorities preparing Local Plans.
	Following a Local Plan Inquiry the inspector makes his/her recommendations to the Local Planning Authority (LPA). It is for the LPA to consider in the first instance whether to make modifications to the plan based on the inspector's recommendations. The LPA is required to prepare a statement of its decision on each recommendation and to give its full reasons if it does not accept any recommendation made by the inspector. Currently, most local authorities accept the majority of an inspector's recommendations, but they are not obliged to do so.
	This statement of reasons and any proposed modifications to the Local Plan are published and objections and representations may be made to the council for a period of six weeks.
	There is no criterion against which the reasons for rejecting any recommendation are measured. The Government office for the south west, on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, will have the opportunity to consider any modifications to identify whether they are consistent with national and regional policies, and whether there are conflicts which do not appear to be justified by local circumstances.
	The general approach of Government is that responsibility for deciding planning matters should be left, as far as possible, to locally accountable planning authorities. This is because local authority councillors are elected to represent the views of local people and, in the main, it is these councillors who are in the best position to make the necessary decisions in respect of their Local Plan.
	In the light of this, while powers have been reserved to direct modifications to the plan or to call-in all, or part, of a plan for determination by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, these powers are used sparingly and as a last resort.

Planning

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to make developers liable for a greater share of the costs of planning inquiries and tribunals.

Keith Hill: There are no plans to change the existing longstanding practice where each party is responsible for their own costs at planning inquiries.

Local Government Finance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) in revenue support grant and (b) in specific grants was provided to City of York in each year since 1997–98.

Nick Raynsford: Grants provided to City of York in each year since 1997–98 are tabled as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  General grants(3) Specific grants(4) 
		
		
			 1997–98 78.0 3.1 
			 1998–99 80.5 4.1 
			 1999–2000 84.5 6.2 
			 2000–01 88.0 11.0 
			 2001–02 90.3 15.0 
			 2002–03 91.1 21.2 
			 2003–04(5) 100.3 16.3 
			 2004–05(5) 102.7 28.2 
		
	
	(3) Includes Revenue Support Grant, Redistributed Non-Domestic Rates, SSA Reduction Grant (1997–98 to 2001–02), Central Support Protection Grant (1999–2000 to 2001–02).
	(4) Specific and special grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF).
	(5) Budgeted figures.
	Source:
	1997–98 to 2002–03 Revenue Summary forms and 2003–04 to 2004–05 Budget Estimate returns

Local Government Finance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value is of each of the specific grants received by City of York in 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The specific grants 1 that City of York have budgeted to receive in 2004–05 2 are tabled as follows:
	
		
			 £000 
		
		
			 Civil Defence 72 
			 Adoption Support and Special Guardianship 51 
			 Choice Protects 67 
			 Leadership Incentive 364 
			 Safeguarding Children 200 
			 School Standards 2,678 
			 Standards Fund 3,705 
			 Teachers Pay Reform 2,571 
			 Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation 101 
			 Detrunking 355 
			 Rural Bus Subsidy 123 
			 Access and Systems Capacity 1,463 
			 AIDS Support 19 
			 Carers 363 
			 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services 167 
			 Delayed Discharges 297 
			 Human Resources Development Strategy 63 
			 Mental Health 493 
			 National Training Strategy 83 
			 Preserved Rights 2,564 
			 Residential Allowance 1,113 
			 Training Support Programme 159 
			 Council Tax Benefit (CTB) Administration 344 
			 Housing Benefit (HB) Administration 390 
			 Additional HB and CTB administration due to Pension   Credit 36 
			 Additional HB and CTB administration due to Tax Credits 27 
			 Workstep 224 
			 Asylum Seekers 29 
			 Homelessness Strategies 250 
			 Planning Development 143 
			 Supporting People Administration 236 
			 Supporting People Programme—Housing 8,585 
			 Supporting People Programme—Social Services 664 
			 Other Grants inside AEF 233 
		
	
	(6) Specific and special grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF).
	(7) Budgeted figures.
	Source:
	2004–05 Budget Estimate RA (SG) form.

TREASURY

Abortion

Marion Roe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many conceptions in women aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000;
	(2)  what the rate of conceptions in women aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many conceptions resulting in abortions in women aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Marion Roe, dated 25 May 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions on conceptions and abortions. (174877, 174879, 174887)
	The information you requested on conceptions, and conception rates was given in answer to a recent question from David Amess MP, which appears in the Official Report of Monday 24 May, No. 91, Column 1201W-1208W.
	Information on conceptions resulting in abortions was given in answer to another question from David Amess MP, which appears in the same Official Report at Column 1197-1200W.

EU Budget

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the present member states of the European Union are expected to be (a) net contributors to and (b) net beneficiaries of the European Union budget in 2004–05.

Ruth Kelly: As shown in the footnote to Table C11 of the FSBR (HC 301), the Government forecasts that the United Kingdom will continue to be a net contributor to the EC Budget in 2004–05. Publishing forecasts of the net positions of other Member States is a matter for their respective Governments.

Aggregates Tax

John Whittingdale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised in tax and licence revenue from the dredging of aggregates off the East Anglian coast in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information on the amount of tax raised from the dredging of aggregates off the East Anglian coast is not available. Revenue from this source and region is not separately identified in either aggregates levy or VAT payments.
	The royalty income over the period 1993 to 2003 from aggregate dredging licences off the East Anglian coast (east coast region comprising Great Yarmouth/Cross Sands block and Southwold) is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Royalty income (£ million) 
		
		
			 2003 5.06 
			 2002 5.29 
			 2001 5.36 
			 2000 6.16 
			 1999 4.77 
			 1998 4.44 
			 1997 4.71 
			 1996 5.21 
			 1995 4.67 
			 1994 4.18 
			 1993 3.67

Child Tax Credit

Colin Burgon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the Elmet constituency are receiving child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W.

Child Tax Credit

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) the constituency of Huntingdon have received child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W. Estimates for each local authority also appear in the publication referred to in that answer.

Departmental Buildings

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many buildings in England owned by his Department are used at less than 25 per cent. capacity for more than three months of the year.

Ruth Kelly: None.

E-Government

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from what date staff were employed by the Inland Revenue's e-Government programme; how many staff are assigned to the programme; and when planning began for the programme.

Dawn Primarolo: Staff have been employed on the planning and implementation of the Inland Revenue's e-Government programme from 1999. Currently there are 328 Full-time Equivalents (FTEs) assigned permanently to the programme. This includes 253 FTEs that provide support to customers who use the "e" services. (Self Assessment, PAYE, Corporation Tax, New Tax Credits and Stamps.)

Farming

Nick Harvey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise the tax treatment of losses made by farmers on holdings of production quotas so as to allow losses to be written off against trading profits rather than capital transaction profits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Production quotas held by unincorporated farmers are treated for tax purposes as chargeable assets and as such any losses are set against current or future chargeable gains. There are no current plans to revise this treatment.

Illegal Meat Imports

Alan Reid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of x-ray technology in detecting illegal meat imports;
	(2)  what use Customs and Excise make of x-ray technology to detect illegal meat imports; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 116W. HM Customs and Excise use x-ray technology to detect illegal meat and other prohibited and restricted goods being imported into the UK both by passengers and in freight. The effectiveness of current equipment is continually assessed.
	Customs continue to work with manufacturers to identify improved technology that would further enhance their detection capabilities.

Large Business Office

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hours' training each Large Business Office caseworker has received in tax compliance performance in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: These figures are not available. Large Business Office caseworkers all have a Performance Development Plan according to their personal needs and experience. They receive continuous technical training on a variety of topics through formal courses and in-house awareness seminars. These include specific tax compliance knowledge and skills.

Large Business Office

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which IT software systems have been procured by the Large Business Office since 1997; and how many hours' training each Large Business Office caseworker has had on those systems in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Large Business Office main IT system to manage case handling was introduced in April 1998. Training in the use of this system is provided by local support on induction to the LBO.
	The main desktop support services are provided departmentally. The LBO has one designated officer in each location to support staff familiarisation with these as required.
	Data analysis software products, Win Idea and SPACE, were introduced in 2003–04 for Employer Compliance staff. 20 officers are having 18 days training in their full use, to become local experts, and a further 20 in 2003–04 and 2004–05 will receive support training.

Large Business Office

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been in each year since 1997 of IT software systems procured by the Large Business Office.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1555–56W.
	The main support IT, such as standard desktop services, audit tools etc. are provided nationally, and not procured by the LBO. The LBO has its own small budget for minor IT software packages and other incidentals, currently £13,000 per annum.

Lone Parents

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many lone parents were employed in each of the last 25 years, broken down by constituency within each region.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Chris Ruane, dated 25 May 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about lone parents in employment. (175129)
	The attached table gives the estimates of the number of lone parents in employment for each region covering the three months ending May each year from 1992 to 2003. Comparable information is not available for earlier or later years. The LFS sample size is too small to give reliable information in each Parliamentary Constituency.
	Estimates are taken from the Office for National Statistics's Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Lone parents(8) with dependent children in employment by regions—three months ending May, each year from 1992 to 2003 -- £000
		
			  United Kingdom North East North West Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midlands Eastern 
		
		
			 1992 569 30 72 53 43 47 42 
			 1993 615 29 82 51 34 53 47 
			 1994 669 30 79 54 46 55 61 
			 1995 725 36 81 60 47 59 62 
			 1996 703 33 94 69 44 52 51 
			 1997 695 34 97 68 50 61 59 
			 1998 763 32 104 66 47 74 60 
			 1999 795 43 106 66 47 72 60 
			 2000 822 42 109 76 50 69 66 
			 2001 836 33 109 79 51 71 67 
			 2002 893 47 136 72 63 71 76 
			 2003 894 44 132 71 59 67 74 
		
	
	
		
			  London South East South West Wales Scotland Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1992 76 74 42 22 55 12 
			 1993 84 73 45 37 61 17 
			 1994 92 86 48 38 62 18 
			 1995 100 99 54 38 69 20 
			 1996 96 87 56 42 63 16 
			 1997 83 84 47 39 55 18 
			 1998 97 92 61 45 64 21 
			 1999 111 93 62 46 70 19 
			 2000 108 97 58 48 72 27 
			 2001 116 98 66 42 82 22 
			 2002 110 111 68 40 79 20 
			 2003 111 113 69 48 81 25 
		
	
	(8)   Refers to people who have dependent children and who are neither married nor cohabiting. Dependent children include all children aged under 16, and 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education.
	Source:
	ONS: Labour Force Survey, household data.

Pensions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of mis-sold pensions in each of the last 25 years.

Ruth Kelly: Neither we nor the Financial Services Authority (the FSA) hold data in this form. The FSA do hold data on the Pensions Review, which covers pensions that were sold between 29 April 1988 and 30 June 1994.
	1,618,686 cases of mis-selling were identified under the review, of which 1,118,885 cases involved consumers suffering loss as a result.
	The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (the FSCS) have informed the FSA that they have, in addition, offered compensation in 18,746 further cases. The FSCS has also rejected 10,117 claims.
	These rejections may include cases where pensions were mis-sold but where claims for compensation were rejected on the grounds that an advisor was solvent and able to meet a claim directly. Some, but very few, of these rejections will be included already in the figures above.

Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the value of the Exchequer's liabilities to (a) the basic state pension, (b) SERPS and (c) the state second pension; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The future cost of basic state pensions and SERFS/State Second Pension over the next 50 years, as a proportion of GDP, is published on the DWP website at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/Table3   Long   TermProjections.xls and shows that expenditure in the United Kingdom on these elements of pension provision is expected to remain in the range 4.1 per cent. to 4.5 per cent. of GDP during the period.

Scrap Aluminium

Richard Page: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to tax export of scrap aluminium to sources outside the EU.

Dawn Primarolo: None. The legality of an export tax to protect a domestic industry is extremely doubtful under the terms of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1947).

Transport Taxes

Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the paper, "Reforming Transport Taxes", published by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport.

John Healey: The Chancellor notes the contents of this report, which looks at the options for transport taxation in general, and more specifically at the tax treatment of the road haulage industry.
	The report will be considered along with other evidence and analysis as the Government takes forward their agenda on lorry road-user charging, and national road-user charging, as outlined in Budget 2004.

Labour Statistics (East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many young people in the East Riding of Yorkshire were not working, studying or in training in 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The Office of National Statistics estimate from the Labour Force Survey, for the twelve months ending in February 2003, that 4,000 young people aged 16 to 24 resident in East Riding of Yorkshire were networking and were not in full-time education or in Government-supported training schemes. This compares to around 4800 young people in 1997.
	Since 1997 the Government have introduced a wide range of support for young people who are not working, studying or training. Most young people leave unemployment in under six months. The New Deal for Young People and other support is in place for those aged 18–24 who do not. In Budget 2004 the Chancellor announced reforms to the financial support system for 16–19 year olds to improve the support and incentives available to young people to remain in education and training. These reforms build on the introduction of Education Maintenance Allowances from September 2004 to improve the financial support available to the hardest to reach to stay in education. Young people can also access advice and support on education and training through either the Connexions Service or Job Centre Plus.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Administration Costs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what targets exist for the achievement of savings in administration costs within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is committed to tight control of Administration Costs. For 2004–05 to 2005–06, the main administration costs target is to hold back office costs to the same cash level as in 2003–04. Between 2002–03 and 2005–06, total administration costs will have fallen from 5.8 per cent. of programme costs to 5.1 per cent. Targets for both back-office costs and total administration costs for 2006–07 and 2007–08 will be agreed as part of the 2004 Spending Review, along with an implementation plan to ensure projected efficiencies are realised.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the programmes aimed at institution building in Chad (a) run by his Department, (b) fully financed by his Department, (c) partially financed by his Department within the framework of EU initiatives, (d) partially financed by his Department within the framework of UN initiatives and (e) partially financed by his Department within the framework of the World Bank initiatives; when they were initiated; for how long they are planned to continue; and what aspect of institution building is being addressed by each.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID does not have a direct development assistance programme in Chad and is not involved in running or providing either full or partial funding for any institution building programmes there. DFID's assistance to Chad is mainly channelled through it's contributions to multilateral agencies, including the EC, World Bank and UN Agencies, of which the UK's imputed share was estimated at £7.3 million in 2001.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) scale and (b) nature of corruption within the public institutions of Chad; what measures to fight this problem his Department proposes to provide as part of its development aid to Chad; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID does not have a direct development assistance programme in Chad. DFID's assistance is mainly channelled through our contributions to multilateral agencies, including the EC, World Bank and UN Agencies, of which the UK's imputed share was estimated at £7.3 million in 2001.
	DFID has not conducted its own assessment of public sector corruption in Chad and is not directly involved in any measures to deal with this problem. However, DFID does support the efforts of the World Bank and the European Commission in helping to tackle corruption, in particular through the monitoring of the revenues from the Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline project to ensure they are mainly used for poverty reduction.

Far East

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid projects his Department plans to develop in the Far East during the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The breakdown for our project spend on bilateral programmes in Far East Asia is as follows:
	
		DFID allocation by programme -- £000
		
			  2003–04 Estimated Outturns 2004–05 Plans 2005–06 Plans 
		
		
			 China 31,000 45,000 35,000 
			 Vietnam 26,000 40,000 60,000 
			 Total: Far East 57,000 85,000 95,000 
		
	
	For details of our projected spend in the rest of Asia I refer the hon. Member to the written answer of 7 May 2004 to his question on DFID's development plans in Asia, Official Report, 10 May 2004, column 57W.
	In addition to this bilateral spend, FCO posts administer a DFID funded Small Grants Scheme for poverty reduction, which covers some countries of the Far East. This is allocated on an annual basis. The total grant values for 2002–03 in the Far East were as follows:
	
		Asia: Far East (Small Grant Scheme) 2002–03
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 China 124 
			 Vietnam 121 
			 Mongolia 97 
			 Total Asia: Far East 342 
		
	
	DFID also provides humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, focusing on water and sanitation and disaster preparedness. This is allocated in response to humanitarian need. In 2003–04, DFID channelled a total of £1,223,000 through the United Nationals Children Fund (UNICEF) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Iran

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has (a) pledged and (b) delivered to help in the ongoing humanitarian and reconstruction work in Bam, Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has committed £3.7 million, including the UK share of the European community contribution, in response to humanitarian needs following the Bam earthquake.
	DFID contributed some £950,000 towards immediate support to the emergency phase of the Bam Earthquake. The details of the UK response were provided in my Statement to the House on 5 January 2004, Official Report, columns 2–4WS. Thereafter, DFID made an additional commitment of £2 million in support of rehabilitation. This was focused on the restoration of primary health care services in partnership with the World Health Organisation (£0.5 million); the implementation of a mid-term sanitation programme in partnership with the United Nations Children's agency, UNICEF (£0.5 million); the restoration of agricultural based livelihoods, focusing on the rehabilitation of wells and procurement of pumps, livestock restocking and the replacement of agricultural tools in a joint United Nations Development Programme—Food and Agricultural Organisation partnership (£0.25 million) and also through the non-governmental organisation Action Contre La Faim (£0.25 million); and further support (£0.45 million) to the International Federation of the Red Cross's appeal.
	All of this support to rehabilitation has been programmed through the agencies mentioned except the £0.45 million committed to the International Federation of the Red Cross. These funds were originally intended for the restocking of relief items, continued provision of emergency medical services and capacity building of the Iranian Red Crescent Society but we have been informed that these elements of the appeal have been sufficiently covered by other contributions. With the aid of the British Red Cross Society an assessment is planned to consider how this allocation might best be utilised in meeting gaps in provision.
	DFID Officials will be visiting Bam in July to monitor how effectively the UK contribution has been spent.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when (a) he and (b) members of his Department last met the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Liberia to discuss (i) the security situation in Liberia, (ii) the humanitarian situation in Liberia and (iii) future plans for the reconstruction of Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: I met the Special Representative, Jacques Klein, on 10 May 2004. We discussed the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Resettlement and Reintegration (DDRR) programme, security and security sector reform, arrangements for next year's elections, and Liberia's future prospects. I confirmed our continued support for humanitarian programmes, to which DFID have committed a total of £10.6m, and for DDRR, for which DFID have provided £6m. DFID officials have also recently met representatives of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, including Chairman Bryant, and a range of UN and other agencies, to discuss possible support to governance reform, as part of the process of reconstruction.

Nigeria

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assurances his Department has (a) sought and (b) received from the Government of Nigeria concerning the effect of unrest in the Plateau region on the announced resumption of polio vaccinations in Kano state; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The unrest in Plateau State, which unfortunately spilled over into neighbouring states, especially Kano, is not related to the ongoing polio controversy. It is the view of DFID Nigeria and of the Nigerian Government that this unrest will not have any significant impact on the resumption of polio vaccinations in Kano State. This resumption depends entirely on whether the Kano State scientists are satisfied that there are no contaminants in the vaccines currently being procured from Indonesia.
	The DFID team in Nigeria is in regular dialogue with the Government of Nigeria and with other international partners in Nigeria regarding the polio crisis. DFID is one of the principal financiers of the World Health Organization's "Polio Eradication Initiative". DFID is working actively with key stakeholders across northern Nigeria to ensure that immunization programmes, including polio, are implemented effectively in a way that is acceptable to the general public and to their political and religious leaders.

Resource Allocation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the switching of resources from corporate service divisions to frontline operational divisions, stating the amounts of resources in each case.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID recognises the importance of maximising the share of administration resources available for front-line activities. From 2002–03 to 2005–06, the percentage of DFID's administration budget used by corporate service divisions will have fallen from 7.7 per cent. to 6.8 per cent. This will have released an additional £2.2m for front line activities compared with maintaining the same ratio. DFID plans to accelerate achievement of savings beyond 2005–6 as new systems are introduced, reducing further the proportion of administration costs going to service divisions. Specific targets are subject to the outcome of the Spending Review.

Shared Scholarships Scheme

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to develop the Shared Scholarships Scheme; and if he will introduce support for talented youngsters from developing countries outside the Commonwealth.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Following a review in 2000, responsibility for administration of the Shared Scholarships Scheme (SSS) transferred, in 2002, to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC). This transfer was agreed to enable improved coordination of the SSS with the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Programme and the development of new forms of funding partnerships. The CSC has subsequently established a sub-committee to review the SSS and to recommend improvements. The SSS, to which DFID contributes £2 million per annum, is an initiative with UK Universities jointly to support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK. There are no plans to extend the SSS to provide support for students from developing countries outside the Commonwealth.

St. Helena

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether there is a minimum population of St. Helena below which the Government considers the island to be unsustainable; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has no such limit in mind and remain committed to supporting St Helena. However, DFID recognises that population decline has been a problem in recent years and is supporting the island government's efforts to address it.

St. Helena

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the cost to the UK taxpayer of maintaining St. Helena over the past 25 years for which figures are available.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID's bilateral spending on St. Helena between 1977 and the end of the UK Financial Year 2002–03 totalled over £233 million. This included some modest support, totalling less than £200,000 annually in recent years, for the St. Helena "dependency" of Tristan Da Cunha. Final figures for 2003–04 are not yet available, but are expected to add a further £11 million approximately to that total. St Helena also receives some assistance from the FCO Good Governance Fund and Economic Diversification Programme, amounting to nearly £1.5 million since 1999. In addition, the UK government share of European Union financial commitments to St. Helena since 1981 is over £500,000. DFID and the FCO departmental administration costs are not broken down by individual Territory.

St. Helena

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the annual (a) saving to the UK and (b) benefit to the economy of St. Helena of providing air access for St. Helena.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The information on which to base that estimate is not available. DFID should have a better idea, however, when current work to assess and compare future physical access options for St. Helena is completed later this year. I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement on 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 1WS.

Sudan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates he has made of the number of refugees from Darfur in Chad; when these figures were last revised; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Reliable figures for the number of refugees in Chad are difficult to find because of the inaccessibility of the areas affected. Agencies on the ground are constantly reviewing their estimates. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) press statement on 14 May 2004 estimated that there were 120,000 Darfurian refugees in Chad. Refugees International estimated on 19 May that the number could be nearer 200,000.
	The Government are gravely concerned about the serious situation in Darfur. In addition to the refugees in Chad, there are over 1.2 million internally displaced people in Darfur who are in a precarious situation likely to become worse with the onset of rains later this month.
	The UK is heavily engaged in the humanitarian response to this crisis. DFID is the second largest donor after the US and so far has committed over £16.5 million to agencies working in Darfur and Eastern Chad. A breakdown of these commitments is given below. In addition, DFID has seconded four humanitarian officers to support United Nations Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)'s response to the crisis in Darfur and are seconding an additional three for the UN Joint Logistics Centre. DFID is also paying for a despatch of non-food items (22,500 blankets and 15,000 plastic sheets) for distribution by humanitarian agencies.
	
		UK Government-funded humanitarian interventions in Darfur, Sudan
		
			 Period Agency Description Total cost (£) 
		
		
			 October to December 2003 UNHCR Supplementary Appeal for Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad—2003 1,000,000 
			 October 2003 to September 2004 SC-UK Emergency Response to Conflict Related Internal Displacement in North Darfur 500,000 
			 November to December 2003 ICRC Contribution to the ICRC 2003 Emergency Appeal for Sudan 1,000,000 
			 November 2003 to March 2004 WFP Additional Contribution to 2003 UN Appeal, due to Crisis in Darfur, to Provide Emergency Food Assistance to Sudanese Populations Affected by War and Natural Disasters 2,000,000 
			 January to April 2004 MSF-F Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfur—through increasing access to health care in conflict areas, disease prevention, halting nutritional deterioration and treating malnourished children 491,369 
			 January to December 2004 MSF-H Darfur Components of Emergency Health Interventions in Northern Sudan Project 650,000 
			 February to December 2004 UNICEF Emergency Assistance to Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur for Health; Water Supply; Water and Environmental Sanitation; Relief and Shelter Items; and the Protection of Children 1,000,000 
			 February to November 2004 GOAL Emergency Assistance to Population in Kutum Province, North Darfur—through a combined Health, Nutrition and Shelter Intervention 575,963 
			 March to December 2004 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 250,000 
			 March to December 2004 WFP Emergency Distribution of Food Aid Commodities to Sudanese Refugees in North East Chad 1,000,000 
			 March 2004 to January 2005 UNHCR Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad 1,000,000 
			 April 2004 to December 2004 OXFAM Public Health Humanitarian Response Darfur (Water/Sanitation Programme) 2,193,161 
			 May 2004 to December 2004 WFP Emergency purchase and distribution of Food Aid for internally displaced Sudanese in Darfur 2,000,000 
			 May 2004 to November 2004 WHO Emergency primary health care and response to communicable diseases in Darfur; support to measles vaccination programme 1,500,000 
			 May 2004 to December 2004 UNICEF Additional support to humanitarian assistance for crisis in Darfur; emergency nutrition; emergency health care and the protection of children 1,500,000 
			 May 2004 to July 2004 UNJLC Support to enable UNJLC to co-ordinate the logistics of an effective humanitarian response in Sudan 250,000 
			   Total 16,910,493

Zimbabwe

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe about its stockpiling of food in the run-up to national elections.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Although the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) provides little information about the activities of the parastatal Grain Marketing Board (GMB), donors believe that current GMB stocks are less than 100 thousand metric tonnes (MT), compared with a national food requirement of up to 1.8 million MT. GMB will build up its stocks in coming months as the harvest comes in, which is appropriate. Donors are particularly concerned about the dishonesty of the GoZ in declaring that the current harvest is in the order of 2.4 million MT and that Zimbabwe will be self-sufficient in food for the coming year, as confirmed by Robert Mugabe in a television interview this week.
	The GoZ cancelled a Crop and Food Supply Assessment that was recently in progress jointly with the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, which would have provided an independent figure. Other recent studies suggest the actual harvest to be at or below 1.2 million MT. Donors are concerned that the GoZ is trying to control food supply in the country in the run-up to parliamentary elections next year, pretending that land reform has been successful. Apart from deceiving its population, the GoZ is putting many of them at great risk of hunger later in the year, while probably needing to divert a substantial amount of its scarce foreign exchange to import grains.

PRIME MINISTER

Sudan

Clare Short: To ask the Prime Minister what action he is taking to (a) bring about an end to the killing of the black Muslim Sudanese of Darfur and (b) secure access for humanitarian assistance to relieve their suffering.

Tony Blair: I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Following the cease-fire agreement of 8 April between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur groups, we are calling on all parties to co-operate fully with the Africa Union-led ceasefire monitoring mission. We are also considering how we can contribute to this.
	I wrote to the Sudanese President earlier this year emphasising the Government's concern at the situation in Darfur. We continue to hold discussions with the Sudanese Government on access for humanitarian assistance and my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development raised the matter with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May. The Sudanese Foreign Minister has now announced new measures governing the issue of visas and travel permits to humanitarian workers wishing to travel to Darfur.
	We hope that these measures will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to a population in great need and will be closely monitoring their implementation. We have already committed £16.5 million in response to the crisis and are urging other partners to contribute as well.

Govan Shipyard

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with the management of Govan/Kvaerner to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard;
	(2)  what role he played in informal and oral approaches made to GEC over the purchase of Govan shipyard;
	(3)  on which dates in 1999 he met Mr. George Simpson of GEC; if he will publish minutes of the meetings; and if he will list the attendees at those meetings;
	(4)  what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with GEC in 1999 over (i) the proposed merger of BAE-GEC and (ii)   Govan shipyard; and if he will publish the communications;
	(5)  what communications (a) he and (b) his representatives and advisers had with Kvaerner, their representatives and advisers over the proposed closure of the Govan shipyard in 1999;
	(6)  what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials held with Sir Gavin Laird to discuss the future of the Govan shipyard.

Tony Blair: My officials and I have meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings, under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Govan Shipyard

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what (a) his and (b) his officials' involvement was in the negotiations over the future of Govan shipyard;
	(2)  what meetings took place between Mr. Ed Miliband and his officials in 1999 to discuss the (a) GEC-BAE merger and (b) Govan shipyard; [R]
	(3)  what advice he received in 1999 on the GEC interest in the Govan shipyard; [R]
	(4)  what advice he received from the Ministry of Defence on the GEC-BAE merger; [R]
	(5)  when he was first informed of the GEC interest in the Govan shipyard.

Tony Blair: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is exempt from disclosure under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Govan Shipyard

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) his, (b) his officials and (c) his advisers involvement was in approving the GEC-BAE merger.

Tony Blair: The decision was made by the then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the right hon. Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) in his capacity set out in the Fair Trading Act 1973.

Govan Shipyard

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister what the name was of the task force chaired by Sir Gavin Laird set up by the Government to look for potential buyers for the Govan shipyard; who was on the task force; what its   terms of reference were; and when it was disbanded.

Tony Blair: The Kvaerner Task Force was set up by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 13 April 1999 under the Chairmanship of Sir Gavin Laird to identify potential purchasers of the shipyard at Govan, the engineering business in Clydebank, and for any other facilities subsequently identified for sale in Scotland. The other members of the Kvaerner Task Force were Bill Scott, Malcolm Clark and David Smith. The Task Force was wound up on 14 July 1999.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, columns 748–49W, on Iraq, prior to the Prime Minister reading the International Committee of the Red Cross report on 10 May, what the first date was on which an official working in No. 10 Downing Street saw the report; and what action was taken concerning the report between it first being received at No. 10 Downing Street and 10 May.

Tony Blair: The report was first received in No. 10 Downing Street by an official on the evening of 9 May. Officials investigated what action had been taken and were made aware that action into the allegations of abuse in respect of UK forces was already in hand. As I have already made clear, I first saw the report on 10 May.

People's Peers Road Shows

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister whether the practice of people's peers road shows to solicit applications has been discontinued.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 13 November 2003, Official Report, column 430W.

World Environment Day

Sue Doughty: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to mark World Environment Day on 5 June; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The Government and the Environment Agency are working together on a campaign to mark World Environment Day. This will include asking the public to sign the "Pledge to the Future" to identify ways they can improve their local environment, and a publicity campaign by the Environment Agency on how businesses can make their organisations more sustainable.

TRANSPORT

Flight Security (Northern Ireland)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a senior citizen's pass with photographic image is an acceptable form of identity for security purposes when flying between Great Britain   and Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: While passengers on international flights are required to carry appropriate travel documentation in the form of passports, visas etc., there is no requirement for passengers to carry identification on domestic flights. We are aware that a number of carriers have instituted such a rule. This measure, and determination of what types of identification are acceptable, is part of the aircraft operator's own conditions of carriage. They usually provide clear indications to would-be passengers on their websites etc. of such requirements but in case of doubt or dispute, queries should be addressed directly to the airline concerned.

Blue Badges

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of people in Great Britain are in receipt of a Blue Badge for disabled drivers.

Tony McNulty: The Blue Badge scheme provides a national arrangement of parking concessions for severely disabled people who travel either as drivers or passengers. Approximately 2.41 million people in Great Britain are currently in receipt of a Blue Badge. This equates to about 4 per cent. of the population.

Civil Servants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants in his Department are employed to deal with local transport plans and annual progress reports submitted to his Department by local authorities.

Tony McNulty: The Department employs five civil servants to deal with Local Transport Plans and Annual Progress Reports alongside their other duties. As well as the five officials currently employed by DfT, four to six staff in each of the eight regional Government offices also deal with LTPs and APRs alongside their other duties.

Computer File Formats

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.

Tony McNulty: The DfT website (http://www.dft.gov.uk) provides access to publicly available documents in a range of formats. The majority of content is made available in Hypertext Mark Up Language (HTML), Portable Document Format (PDF) and Microsoft WORD. All images contained within documents are made available in Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) or Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) formats depending on the complexity of the image. Statistical data tables are provided in Excel, Comma separated values (CSV) and PDF format.
	The same formats apply for documents held in archive areas of the website.

Crime (Public Transport)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many assaults were committed on buses in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many bus drivers were assaulted on duty in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The following table shows the number of bus-related assaults reported to this Department by Transport for London and, for outside London, by a panel of PSV operators.
	
		
			  Total number of assaults on bus crews and passengers in Great Britain Total number of assaults on bus crews in Great Britain 
		
		
			 1997 2,556 1,899 
			 1998 2,195 1,594 
			 1999 2,369 1,680 
			 2000(9) 1,988 1,036 
			 2001 n/a 2,592 
			 2002 n/a 2,874 
		
	
	(9) Figures for 2000 exclude assaults on bus crews in London.
	The Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel (STOP) has been established to look at ways to combat assaults, anti-social behaviour and vandalism at stops and stations and on vehicles and property. The panel brings together those involved in dealing with the issue of safety and security, and includes operators, local authorities, police and unions. It is charged with the important task of facilitating the exchange of ideas and spreading best practice and is considering how the collection of accurate bus and coach crime data can be improved.

Crime (Public Transport)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes of a sexual nature were committed (a) on buses and (b) at bus stops in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: There were 60 sexual assaults on bus passengers in 1997 and 90 in 1998. It is not possible to distinguish between crimes of a sexual nature committed on buses and at bus stops. No data are held centrally for subsequent years.

Crime (Public Transport)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acts of vandalism were committed on buses in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: No data are held centrally on the number of acts of vandalism committed on buses in each year since 1997. However, it is estimated that the average annual cost per operator outside London resulting from acts of vandalism was £31,459 in 2002.

Ministerial Travel

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many coach journeys Ministers have   taken on departmental business in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. Information about the mode of transport used by Ministers on departmental business is not held centrally. Ministers frequently use a variety ofpublic transport services when undertaking departmental business.

Nuclear Installations (Air Exclusion Zones)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions since 2000 the Civil Aviation Authority has investigated alleged breaches of the air exclusion zones around nuclear installations.

Tony McNulty: Since 2000, the CAA has received 72 reports of breaches of the air exclusion zones around nuclear installations. 12 formal investigations have been carried out resulting in two prosecutions, one formal caution, three warning letters and two dismissed by the courts for insufficient evidence. The remaining four are in progress and may result in prosecution.

Railways

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list the level of subsidy (a) per rail mile travelled and (b) per passenger for each train operator for each year since 1997;
	(2)  if he will list the subsidy paid to each train operator in each year since 1997 in descending order.

Tony McNulty: Details of subsidy paid to each train operator, in each year since 1997, are set out in Appendix 3 to the Strategic Rail Authority's annual report 2002–03.
	Details of subsidy per passenger mile/passenger kilometre travelled, and of numbers of passenger journeys made, with each train operator in each year since 1997, are set out in SRA and OPRAF annual reports for the relevant years.
	Copies of all SRA and OPRAF annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

Railways

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of rail journeys were made by freight trains in the last year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: In 2002–03 approximately 6 per cent. of the total rail journeys were by made by freight trains.

Road Charging

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for road charging; whether charges would apply to all roads; whether charges will vary by (a) time of day and (b) level of traffic; and what the money collected in road charging schemes would be spent on.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made a statement to the House on 9 July 2003 announcing a feasibility study into the potential for road charging in the UK. The study is expected to report this summer.

Sea ports/Airports

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution of the (a) seaports and (b) airports industry to the UK economy.

Alistair Darling: The economic contribution that the aviation industry makes to UK economy is set out in the Air Transport White Paper, though the economic analysis of additional airport capacity focussed on the direct economic benefits to passengers. The Department is managing a research project to collect information about employment in the UK ports.

Sea ports/Airports

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the social and economic consequences of constraints on port capacity.

Alistair Darling: The Government are aware of the potential consequences of the emerging constraints on ports capacity and so we ensure that the planning consent process assesses the social and economic aspects of the case for and against port development.

Speed Cameras

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reviewed the suitability of locations of all speed cameras in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

David Jamieson: The West Mercia Partnership, which covers Shrewsbury and Atcham, has confirmed that they are adhering to the guidance and rules for the operation of safety camera activity. Partnerships are expected on a continuing basis to keep camera sites and enforcement at them under review. My Department will shortly publish an independent report on the operation of the Safety Camera Programme for its first three years, and will also publish details of all safety camera sites in the cost recovery programme.

Speed Cameras

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his review of the location of speed cameras.

David Jamieson: Partnerships are expected on a continuing basis to keep camera sites and enforcement at them under review. My Department will shortly publish an independent report on the operation of the Safety Camera Programme for its first three years, and will also publish details of all safety camera sites in the cost recovery programme.

Transport (Bootle)

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of priority bus lanes have been created in Bootle since 1997.

Tony McNulty: A total of 0.6 miles of priority bus lanes have been provided in Bootle since 1997.

Transport (Bootle)

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new cycle lanes have been provided in Bootle using public funds since 1997.

Tony McNulty: A total of 9.85 miles of cycle lanes have been provided in Bootle since 1997.

Transport (Bootle)

Joe Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects upon residents of Bootle of investment in railway improvements over the next 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Merseyrail, which operates local services in Bootle, is a consistently high performer. Residents of Bootle will benefit from the West Coast Main Line upgrade and the new TransPennine Express franchise to make fast inter-city journeys out of Liverpool. The TransPennine Express franchise, which commenced in February, secures investment of around £260 million, which will include the introduction of a new fleet of 100 mph diesel trains leading to increased capacity, improved service quality and performance across the region.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Emergency Planning

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans there are to provide national guidance for schools and care homes in the case of a serious civil emergency.

Ivan Lewis: The Home Office, alongside the emergency services will provide immediate information and advice in the event of a discernible threat or a specific incident. My Department, in its guidance on coping with emergencies (www.teachernet.gov.uk/ emergencies), refers schools to Home Office guidance for civil contingencies; and will liaise with the Cabinet Office before writing to chief education officers about the Civil Contingencies Bill due to come into force later this year. We are not currently planning to provide separate national guidance for children's homes in the case of a serious civil emergency. However, we will keep this under review.

Child Care

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places were created in each of the past 15 years, broken down by constituency within each region.

Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places in the past 15 years. We are also unable to provide details of places within each constituency. Statistics have only been collected by local authorities since 1999 following the introduction of the National Childcare Strategy for England.
	A table, which has been placed in the Library, details the number of gross and net places created each year by local authority and region since 1999.

Early Years Education

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four-year-olds in Wirral South in each of the last seven years.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Wirral local education authority area are shown in the table.
	The latest figures on provision for three and four-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003" which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
	From April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all three-year-olds in England whose parents want one, are eligible for a free, part-time early education place.
	
		Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four-year-old children in maintained nursery and primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers Wirral local education authority area 1997–2003: Position in January each year
		
			  Three-year-olds Four-year-olds 
		
		
			 2003 3,200 3,500 
			 2002 3,200 3,000 
			 2001 3,100 4,400 
			 2000 2,900 3,900 
			 1999 1,700 3,900 
			 1998 1,700 3,900 
			 1997 1,600 3,800 
		
	
	(10) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
	(11) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for thirty-three weeks of the year, usually three terms of eleven weeks.

Education Statistics (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many instances of truancy there were in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Brent in each year since 1997; and what the average figures for a London borough were in each year.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is as follows:
	Number of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence in schools in Brent:
	
		
			 Academic year (September—May) Primary Schools (percentage) Secondary Schools (percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 3,585 (0.68) 1,378 (0.83) 
			 1999 3,738 (0.66) 1,373 (0.89) 
			 2000 3,971 (0.60) 1,875 (1.04) 
			 2001 3,198 (0.55) 1,930 (0.89) 
			 1002 3,262 (0.49) 1,874 (0.73) 
			 2003 3,036 (0.41) 2,438 (0.86) 
		
	
	Number of pupils that missed at least a half day due to unauthorised absence in schools in the London Government Office Region:
	
		
			 Academic year (September—May) Primary schools (Percentage) Secondary schools (Percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 130,606 (0.92) 74.492 (1.52) 
			 1999 133,433 (0.91) 77,789 (1.48) 
			 2000 137,772 (0.90) 81,088 (1.43) 
			 2001 140,592 (0.91) 89,320 (1.49) 
			 2002 136,781 (0.85) 95,570 (1.45) 
			 2003 135,716 (0.79) 100,843 (1.34)

Further Education

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in the Worthing area he expects to stay in education as a result of the introduction of education maintenance allowances; and what plans he has to provide extra funding to further education colleges in the Worthing area to support these students.

Ivan Lewis: We estimate there will be about 3,600 extra 16-year-olds in the South East Region in further education this September who would not be participating without EMA. We are unable to provide forecasts of the number of EMA students down to constituency level. The 2002 Spending Review settlement allowed for the expected impact of national EMA in further education institutions.

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria have been applied since 2000 to higher education colleges applying to move from the private sector to Higher Education Funding Council for England direct funding; and what changes there have been since 2000 to these criteria.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 41W. The criteria have been in place since February 2001 and there have been no changes to them.

ICT

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public money has been spent on information and communications technology in schools in the last five years in the London borough of Wandsworth.

Charles Clarke: Over the last five years, schools in the London borough of Wandsworth have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):
	
		£
		
			  Allocation to Wandsworth LEA 
		
		
			 2000–01 579,974 
			 2001–02 834,881 
			 2002–03 1,188,913 
			 2003–04 1,199,494 
			 2004–05 1,592,626

Information, Advice and Guidance Partnerships

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people holding above-level 2 educational attainment contacted information, advice and guidance partnerships for assistance in the year to 31 March.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the Learning and Skills Council. The Council's Chief Executive will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Maintenance Allowances

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills from what date students living in North Thanet will be eligible to receive funding under the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme.

Ivan Lewis: holding reply 19 May 2004
	We are phasing in the EMA scheme nationally from September 2004, to successive 16 year old year groups. EMA will be available to students in North Thanet who are aged 16 at the start of the 2004/2005 academic year.

Maintenance Allowances

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the impact of education maintenance allowances on benefits.

Ivan Lewis: This Department has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions in developing the English EMA scheme.
	EMA will not affect other family benefits. It is specifically aimed at helping young people from lower income families to overcome barriers to further study caused by the costs of supporting students. EMA is paid in addition to other support provided by the Government, such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. EMA will not affect Child Benefit.

Maintenance Allowances

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evidence (a) he and (b) the Department of Trade and Industry have collated on the impact of education maintenance allowances on the national minimum wage for 16 year olds; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government submitted evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the possible introduction of a minimum wage rate for 16 and 17 year olds in December 2003. The evidence provided the Government with an opportunity to assess the interaction between a minimum wage for 16–17 year olds and incentives to participate in education and training, such as EMA.
	This evidence can be accessed online at www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw/index.htm

Maintenance Allowances

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make education maintenance allowances available to young people whose birthdays do not fall within the defined boundaries solely as a result of their being moved a year ahead at school.

Ivan Lewis: Young people who have progressed a year at school and who are 15 when starting their further education are not eligible for EMA. The EMA scheme is targeted at those who reach compulsory school leaving age. To qualify for EMA under the national scheme a young person must reach the age of 16 between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004 and enter full time education in the 2004/2005 academic year. In addition young people aged 17 and over who live in the 56 areas that have already piloted EMA will also be able to apply.

Maintenance Allowances

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he made of the  Education Maintenance Allowance pilot schemes before rolling them out nationally; and what changes were made to the scheme as a result of his conclusions.

Ivan Lewis: An independent evaluation of the education maintenance allowance scheme has been taking place since 1999. The evaluation has tested the effectiveness of the scheme in increasing participation. Evidence from the pilots shows that EMAs have increased the number of eligible young people in full time education in year 12 in pilot areas by 5.9 percentage points compared to the local authority areas without EMAs. EMAs have also increased participation by young people in Year 13 by 4.1 percentage points.
	The evaluation has also assessed the comparative impact of different features and this has informed the development of the national scheme. The main changes are: that household income is assessed rather than parental income; that EMA payments are paid at three rates of £10, £20 or £30 dependent on the household income; the bonus payments are linked to retention and progression in learning rather than achievement of qualifications; and, that more young people can benefit from three years of support.

Medical Students

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 37–8W, on medical students, if he will list the factors taken into account in defining a broad range of social and ethnic backgrounds in respect of the criteria for the establishment of new medical schools; if he will break down the widening participation allocation by institution; and if he will make a statement on widening participation and the maintenance of standards of excellence in the medical profession.

Alan Johnson: The Government are absolutely committed to widening educational opportunities, not just in medicine but in higher education as a whole. We have always made it clear that admission to university must be on merit, based on the applicant's academic achievement and potential. It is important that universities, as autonomous bodies, ensure that their admission decisions are professional, fair and transparent.
	In inviting bids to expand medical school places in September 2000, the Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) asked institutions to provide data relating to the following factors pertaining to social and ethnic backgrounds: "A" Level grades of successful medical students and, where known, unsuccessful candidates; demographic profile of applicants and students admitted to medical schools over the last two years by race, gender, socio-economic group and proportion of students admitted straight from state school; and for institutions without existing medical students, the same information for related disciplines, especially healthcare students.
	As my answer of 10 May explained, the HEFCE allocation for widening participation is broken down by institution in Table 1 of the HEFCE document "Recurrent Grants for 2004–05" (March 2004/12), a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. Alternatively, the document can be accessed at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/Pubs/hefce/2004/04   127/ on the internet.

Post-16 Education/Training

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress he has made in talks with (a) the Learning and Skills Council and (b) the Association of Colleges about the respective roles, responsibilities and powers of those organisations and his Department in relation to the (i) provision and (ii)   withdrawal of post-16 education and training in local areas.

Alan Johnson: The working group, which will consider the LSC-college relationship in relation to post-16 education and training, has yet to meet. Its membership will be agreed between the Department for Education and Skills, the Learning and Skills Council and relevant sector bodies. The Learning and Skills Council is leading on establishing the group and will write to the hon. Member once the membership and remit for the group has been agreed.

School Absences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines he has issued to   (a) schools and (b) local education authorities about levels of (i) authorised and (ii) unauthorised absence.

Ivan Lewis: holding reply 20 May 2004
	In December 2001, the Department asked all schools with above average levels of unauthorised absence to set themselves targets to reduce the level of unauthorised absence by the end of this school year. In February 2003, I wrote to all local education authorities reminding them of the importance that the Government attaches to improving the levels of school attendance and urging them to work with their schools in reducing both authorised and unauthorised absences. Also in 2003, we provided 56 local education authorities with expert advisers to help them work with schools to improve attendance levels, in particular, to reduce unauthorised absence to a level closer to that of authorities in similar circumstances. The Department also advises authorities and schools on appropriate levels of absence through analysis of targets set, for example, in Education Development Plans, under the Behaviour Improvement Programme or as part of Local Public Service Agreements.

School Absences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the causal links between absence from school and attainment at the level of (a) individual pupils, (b) schools and (c) local education authorities.

Ivan Lewis: holding reply 20 May 2004
	The information is as follows:
	(a)   The Department has recently commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research to carry out an analysis of data to identify the links between individual pupils' attendance at school and their attainment in examinations. The report is expected in the summer of 2004.
	(b)   Analysis of school level data for the 2002/3 academic year indicates that there is a correlation between attendance and attainment. For example, in schools with absence levels of 6.5 per cent. or lower, an average of 74.3 per cent. of pupils achieved five or more A*-C grades in GCSE examinations. However, the average fell to 26.7 per cent. in schools where absence levels exceeded 11 per cent.
	(c)   The data also reveal a general correlation at local education authority level with attainment dropping as absence levels increase. Most authorities with absence levels of 7.0 per cent. or less have, on average, over 60 per cent. of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades. In those authorities with absence levels exceeding 10 per cent., on average, less than 45 per cent. of pupils achieve five or more A*-C GCSE grades.

School Budgets (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school budgets in Greater London, broken down by local education authority, were in deficit in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is only available for the last four years and is contained in the following table:
	
		Numbers of schools in Greater London with deficit budgets
		
			 LEA name 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden 4 0 2 6 
			 Greenwich 23 13 21 24 
			 Hackney 21 15 21 13 
			 Hammersmith and   Fulham 3  2  5  10 
			 Islington 10 3 2 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4 1 3 2 
			 Lambeth 19 12 13 14 
			 Lewisham 10 11 20 22 
			 Southwark 10 9 21 22 
			 Tower Hamlets 20 17 23 26 
			 Wandsworth 6 5 4 8 
			 Westminster 9 17 12 11 
			 Barking and Dagenham 14 4 6 14 
			 Barnet 5 8 16 5 
			 Bexley 11 5 11 10 
			 Brent 10 10 14 17 
			 Bromley 13 11 8 15 
			 Croydon 7 2 2 9 
			 Ealing 9 7 5 5 
			 Enfield 5 5 4 5 
			 Haringey 32 23 18 11 
			 Harrow 2 2 0 2 
			 Havering 5 6 4 7 
			 Hillingdon 8 11 13 10 
			 Hounslow 9 6 6 13 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3 3 3 4 
			 Merton 5 3 4 3 
			 Newham 14 17 20 20 
			 Redbridge 6 4 4 8 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 3 2 2 6 
			 Sutton 1 2 3 2 
			 Waltham Forest 10 7 12 13 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data are taken from local education authorities' Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DfES. Financial data used to determine budget is taken to the nearest pound.
	2. School level data has only been collected by the DfES since the inception of Section 52 in 1999–2000.
	3. For 1999–2000 to 2001–02 the data are taken from the Balance Carried Forward column. In 2002–03 data comes from Other Revenue Balance.
	4. 2002–03 data subject to changes by the LEA which may alter the results for that period.

Student Assistance

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance his Department offers to students from low income backgrounds who are embarking on further or higher education before their 19th birthday; and if he will extend education maintenance allowances to such students.

Ivan Lewis: Young people from lower income households who are aged 16 at the start of the 2004/05 academic year can apply to receive the education maintenance allowance. We are phasing in the scheme nationally from September 2004 to successive 16 year-old year groups. By 2006 all young people aged 16 to 19 who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to receive EMA. In addition, the Learner Support Fund provides a safety net to students who experience financial hardship. For those students in higher education from lower income backgrounds the £1,000 higher education grant is available from September 2004. This will ensure a continuous system of non-repayable support for tuition for those most in need.

Sure Start Unit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people the Sure Start Unit employs; and what the Unit's expected budget is in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06.

Charles Clarke: As at 1 April 2004, the Sure Start Unit employed 299 permanent staff. The expected budget for 2004–05 will be £12.7 million. Budgets are set annually.

University Fees

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire are attending university; and how many (i) pay no tuition fees and (ii) pay partial tuition fees.

Alan Johnson: In England and Wales, students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
	For entry in 2002, there were 6,792 applicants domiciled in Lancashire LEA who were accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HND courses at UK institutions. Data on the number of students from Chorley attending university are not available.
	The number and percentages of students in England and Wales in academic year 2002/03 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a nil or partial contribution towards the cost of their tuition are shown in the table:
	
		England and Wales: Academic year 2002/03 (provisions)
		
			  Student Support Scheme Student numbers (000s)(12) Student Support Scheme  Students (Percentage)(12) 
		
		
			 Nil contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner(13) 330 43 
			 Partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/ partner 116 15 
		
	
	(12) Contributions towards the cost of tuition are assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales for students normally domiciled in their area and studying in the UK.
	(13) Includes students on courses where the fee support was not subject to income-assessment (e.g. PGCE courses, and some other ITT courses; and designated courses at private institutions).
	National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 12/2004 for 2002/03).
	Source:
	F503G survey of local education authorities
	Data are collected from the local education authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level. Therefore data by constituency or local education authority are not available.

University Students (Huntingdon)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) the constituency of Huntingdon are attending university; and how many of these students pay (i) no tuition fee and (ii) a partial tuition fee.

Alan Johnson: In England and Wales, students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.
	For entry in 2002, there were 3,025 applicants domiciled in Cambridgeshire LEA who were accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HMD courses at UK institutions. Data on the number of students from the constituency of Huntingdon attending university are not available.
	The number and percentages of students in England and Wales in academic year 2002/03 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a nil or partial contribution towards the cost of their tuition are shown in the table:
	
		England and Wales: Academic year 2002/03(14)
		
			  Student Support Scheme Student numbers(15) (Thousand) Student Support Scheme Students(15) (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Nil contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/ partner(16) 330 43 
			 Partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/ partner 116 15 
		
	
	(14) Provisional.
	(15) Contributions towards the cost of tuition are assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales for students normally domiciled in their area and studying in the UK.
	(16) Includes students on courses where the fee support was not subject to income-assessment (e.g. PGCE courses, and some other ITT courses; and designated courses at private institutions).
	Note:
	National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 12/2004 for 2002/03).
	Source:
	F503G survey of local education authorities
	Data are collected from the Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level. Therefore data by Constituency or local education authority are not available.

Vocational Qualifications

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost of (a) a GCSE, (b) an intermediate GNVQ, (c) an AS-level and (d) an NVQ level-2 or equivalent vocational qualification are; and how many people achieved each of these qualifications in 2003.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 May 2004
	The cost of examination entry is set by the independent awarding bodies. The typical cost of entry and the number of people achieving (a) GCSEs, (b) GNVQs and (c) AS levels in 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			 Qualification Typical cost of entry(17)(£) Number of candidates achieving qualification(18) 
		
		
			 (a) GCSE   
			 Full 21.00 682,828 
			 Short Course 14.50 275,841 
			
			 (b) Intermediate GNVQ  48,842 
			 Part 1   
			 Full 79.00 45,550 
			 (c) GCE AS level 33 (11 per unit) 315,357 
		
	
	(17) Typical cost of entry is based on entry through Edexcel. These figures have been taken from information provided on the Edexcel website.
	(18) Information on candidates attempting GCSEs, GNVQs and AS levels in 2003 is taken from information collated for the 2003 Performance Tables.
	Using the most recent data available the number of level 2 NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) and OVQs (Other Vocational Qualifications) achieved in 2002 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Qualification Typical cost of entry(19)(£) Number of qualifications achieved (20) 
		
		
			 (d) NVQ Level 2 84.00 177,115 
			 OVQ Level 2 (21)— 98,307 
		
	
	(19) Typical cost of entry is based on entry through Edexcel. These figures have been taken from information provided on the Edexcel website.
	(20) Information on candidates attempting GCSEs, GNVQs and AS levels in 2003 is taken from information collated for the 2003 Performance Table
	(21) For OVQs the cost is not shown as this would be dependant upon the exact qualification.

CABINET OFFICE

Emergency Communications Network

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how it is planned that senior Government figures will remain in contact in the event of a terrorist attack that eliminated the London telephone network.

Douglas Alexander: A range of measures are available to maintain contact with senior Government Ministers and officials in the event of degradation of the telephone network. These include the use of managed call preference schemes, secure fixed and mobile facilities, the private Whitehall telephone service and the Government Secure Intranet.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many non-departmental public bodies have been (a) created and (b) abolished since July 2003.

Douglas Alexander: This information is not currently available centrally.
	I refer the hon. Member to my response to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1444W, when I indicated that later this year we would be launching a Public Bodies database on the internet. This will contain statistics as at 31 March 2004 which can then be compared with figures in the previous annual "Public Bodies" publications.

Official Vehicles

John Barrett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of official vehicles used by the Department are run on (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) liquid petroleum gas and (d) compressed natural gas.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Bodies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many public bodies sponsored by other Departments have been (a) merged and (b) abolished since 1997 as a result of a quinquennial review by his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many quinquennial reviews of public bodies have been carried out since 1997; on what dates; and for which Departments.

Douglas Alexander: It is the responsibility of the relevant parent Department to ensure its public bodies are kept under review. Cabinet Office does not carry out such reviews for other Departments. The rigid requirement to review public bodies in accordance with detailed guidelines at least every five years ceased in 2002. Sponsor Departments now have greater flexibility in determining the appropriate timing and format for reviewing a particular public body. Information about the number and timing of reviews of public bodies by Departments is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Beef

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the amount of imported beef which is processed in local factories and sold in Northern Ireland with a produce of Northern Ireland label under the Farm Quality Assured Scheme.

Ian Pearson: Only beef derived from animals from FQAS registered farms and slaughtered in an FQAS registered slaughterhouse may be labelled as FQAS under the Livestock and Meat Commission Assurance Scheme. The rules pertaining to the FQAS and the EU Beef Labelling Scheme preclude imported beef being sold under a FQAS label.

Broadband

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the percentage of households in Northern Ireland who have broadband access.

Barry Gardiner: Based on analysis of information obtained from the public domain, industry sources and service providers, it can be estimated that broadband services aimed at residential users are available to approximately 70 per cent. of households across Northern Ireland.

Business Tariffs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in securing European Commission approval for a three year subsidy scheme to reduce tariffs for business customers at 10 per cent. below true costs.

Barry Gardiner: A paper has been submitted to the European Commission outlining the Government's proposal to make an intervention aimed at bringing about a 10 per cent. decrease in electricity prices for non-domestic consumers below the level they would otherwise have been.
	A meeting to discuss the matter with Commission officials will take place early next month.

Creative Writing Funding

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public money was granted by (a) the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, (b) the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, (c) the Ultach Trust and (d) Foras na Gaeilge towards the publication of creative writing in the Irish language in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999.

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has not made funding available specifically for the publication of writing in the Irish language. However, the Arts Council have given £6,000 per annum to "An tUltach", an Irish language literary and cultural magazine, and in 2003–04, £27,200 to an arts supplement published by Lá, an Irish language newspaper. Both these publications include an element of creative writing in Irish.
	The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure's funds in support of the arts in Northern Ireland is disbursed chiefly through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department has not made any funding directly available for the publication of creative writing in the Irish language.
	The Ultach Trust is a registered charitable trust. It is not directly funded by Northern Ireland Departments and the Government are not responsible for the Trust's expenditure.
	Foras na Gaeilge has not provided any funding for the publication of creative writing in the Irish language.

Disabled Drivers

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of people in Northern Ireland are in receipt of a blue badge for disabled drivers.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Gregory Campbell, dated 25 May 2004
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many and what percentage of people in Northern Ireland are in receipt of a blue badge for disabled drivers. I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	I can advise you that the number of persons currently holding a Blue Badge in Northern Ireland is 74,146. Based on the 2001 population census figure of 1,685,267, this represents 4.4 % of the population.

Heart Conditions

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many individuals in Northern Ireland have implantable defibrillators; and how many procedures to implant these devices were performed in the Province in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Procedures to perform the implantation of defibrillators are undertaken at the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust and the Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust. Each trust maintains records of their patients who have been fitted with the device. According to the two trusts there are 381 individuals in Northern Ireland who have been fitted with implantable defibrillators since the beginning of the financial year 1999–2000.
	The following table provides figures for the number of procedures that were performed to implant these devices over the last five years.
	
		
			  Number of implantable defibrillators fitted 
		
		
			 1999–2000 46 
			 2000–01 66 
			 2001–02 55 
			 2002–03 81 
			 2003–04 133

Homeless Report

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the 21st Report of the Committee of Public Accounts, Session 2003–04, "Housing the Homeless".

John Spellar: I welcome the report and will be making a formal response to the Public Accounts Committee in due course.

Iraq (Public Sector Employees)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) allied health professionals and (d) others employed in the NHS in Northern Ireland are providing assistance in Iraq.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available centrally.

Livestock Collection

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the national collection scheme to assist livestock farmers in disposing of fallen stock will apply to Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Yes.

Local Government Finance

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by district council area the (a) total amount of debt owed by each of the 26 local authorities and (b) the amount of debt per elector in each district.

Angela Smith: The amount of debt owed by each of the 26 district councils and the amount per elector in each district, at 31 March 2003, is set out in following table.
	
		
			 District council Debt (£) Number of electors Debt per elector (£) 
		
		
			 Antrim(22) 5,924,159 29,301 202.18 
			 Ards(22) 17,365,391 48,962 354.67 
			 Armagh 23,116,660 37,030 624.27 
			 Ballymena(22) 23,576,459 40,836 577.34 
			 Ballymoney 5,006,373 18,707 267.62 
			 Banbridge 13,327,993 28,685 464.63 
			 Belfast(22) 23,601,119 155,929 151.36 
			 Carrickfergus(22) 9,718,566 24,470 397.16 
			 Castlereagh 19,030,679 42,679 445.90 
			 Coleraine(22) 22,427,214 35,155 637.95 
			 Cookstown 1,689,565 22,087 76.50 
			 Craigavon(22) 8,614,863 53,040 162.42 
			 Derry 20,256,762 63,434 319.34 
			 Down 8,715,435 41,863 208.19 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 1,766,842 33,129 53.33 
			 Fermanagh 2,188,192 40,742 53.71 
			 Larne 5,260,870 20,434 257.46 
			 Limavady 8,999,312 20,086 448.04 
			 Lisburn(22) 26,557,800 66,498 399.38 
			 Magherafelt 78,117 27,551 2.84 
			 Moyle(22) 7,004,403 10,576 662.29 
			 Newry and Mourne 21,973,624 57,365 383.05 
			 Newtownabbey 29,018,716 51,613 562.24 
			 North Down(22) 15,551,195 49,671 313.08 
			 Omagh 9,340,300 31,709 294.56 
			 Strabane 2,725,066 25,388 107.34 
		
	
	(22) Includes borrowings raised for housing, prior to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Love for Life Programme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reason is for the Department of Education's decision to refuse funding for the Love for Life programme in schools.

Barry Gardiner: My Department does not directly fund or prescribe the use of any particular programmes or materials that schools should use. It is entirely a matter for individual schools to select the resources and materials they consider necessary to deliver the curriculum. The Chief Executive of Love for Life was advised of this reason in a letter dated 11 May.

Professional Qualifications Directive

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the proposed European Directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, with particular reference to the impact in Northern Ireland of free movement of health professionals.

Angela Smith: The proposed European Directive on mutual recognition of professional qualifications aims to consolidate and rationalise existing rules. The Government welcome the simplification of rules and particularly welcomes new provisions for temporary and occasional supply of services. However, free movement must be balanced by a due regard for public health and safety, especially in the field of health. The proposal as it now stands reflects the view, shared by the Commission and the Council, that prior checks are necessary for health professions, before services can be provided on a temporary basis. The rules for prior checking of credentials before permanent practice are unchanged.

Queen's University Belfast

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the costs were of (a) setting up and (b) maintaining in each year since establishment the (i) Omagh and (ii) Armagh campuses of Queen's University Belfast.

Barry Gardiner: Queen's University Belfast, like all other UK universities, is an autonomous institution entirely responsible for its own policies and procedures, including decisions relating to the establishment of outreach campuses in Northern Ireland. The costs of setting up and maintaining the campus at Armagh is a matter internal to Queen's University and I am not able to provide details of these costs.
	Queen's University does not have a physical campus at Omagh. However, Queen's and Omagh College have, for many years, collaborated to provide a range of joint academic awards in the Omagh region.

Sean O'Cealleogh

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made to the US Administration about the decision of a US court not to deport Sean O'Cealleogh.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The information sought is not readily available, but is presently being collated, and will be provided as soon as possible.

Smoking

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ban smoking in public places in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Substantial progress on the provision of smoke-free facilities can be made through the "Five Year Tobacco Action Plan for Northern Ireland", which was published in June 2003. The plan, which was prepared by an inter-sectoral working group, does not propose an outright ban on smoking in public places; rather it stresses the importance of building on changes in public attitudes towards tobacco use, if the overall aim of creating a tobacco-free society is to be met. With this in mind, the plan includes a series of actions designed to promote the provision of smoke-free premises and facilities.
	A copy of the plan is available in the Library of the House.

Teenage Pregnancies

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many conceptions there were in females aged 11 to 19 years in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000, broken down by age.

Angela Smith: Information on the number of conceptions is not available. However, information on the number of registered live and still births to mothers in Northern Ireland, by age, for the years 2000–02, is available and is detailed in the table.
	
		Number of live and still births to Northern Ireland resident mothers, 2000 to 2002
		
			  Age of mother 
			 Registration year (a) 14 years and under (b) 15 years (c) 16 years (d) 17 years (e) 18 years (f) 19 years 
		
		
			 2000 11 47 165 312 484 601 
			 2001 5 37 129 280 493 588 
			 2002 5 32 113 304 494 566 
		
	
	Source:
	Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Teenage Pregnancies

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many attendances at sexual health clinics there were by those aged 11 to 19 years in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) age and (b) sex.

Angela Smith: Information on the total number of attendances at sexual health clinics is not collected centrally according to age and gender. Information is, however, available on the number of initial contacts with Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics each year, broken down by age and gender, in respect of persons with various sexually transmitted infections. This information is shown for the financial years ending March 2000, March 2001, March 2002 and March 2003 in the following table.
	
		Initial contacts
		
			  Under 15 15 16–19 Total 
		
		
			 1 April 1999–31 March 2000 
			 Male 1 0 169 170 
			 Female 9 16 397 422 
			 Total 10 16 566 592 
			  
			 1 April 2000–31 March 2001 
			 Male 5 2 219 226 
			 Female 8 15 475 498 
			 Total 13 17 694 724 
			  
			 1 April 2001–31 March 2002
			 Male 1 0 201 202 
			 Female 6 15 440 461 
			 Total 7 15 641 663 
			  
			 1 April 2002–31 March 2003 
			 Male 3 3 195 201 
			 Female 6 21 464 491 
			 Total 9 24 659 692 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures refer to the total number of initial contacts in respect of primary and secondary infectious syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea, uncomplicated chlamydial infection, anogenital herpes simplex (first attack), anogenital warts (first attack), and HIV antibody counselling with testing.

Ulster Hospital (Shuttle Bus)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of a shuttle bus service between the Ulster hospital and Belfast city centre.

John Spellar: There has been no assessment made of the potential benefits of a shuttle bus service from Belfast city centre to the Ulster hospital.

Unmanned Railway Crossings

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the safety risks associated with unmanned railway crossings in Northern Ireland since the accident at Woodtown Crossing, Co. Londonderry on 11 May.

John Spellar: Safety on the Northern Ireland railway network is the responsibility of Northern Ireland Railways. Translink have advised that an inquiry is under way into the cause and circumstances surrounding the tragic accident at Woodtown crossing. Furthermore a review of all accommodation crossings by independent consultants is nearing completion and will result in a re-evaluation of the categorisation of over 200 user worked crossings throughout the network.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Free Television Licences

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioner households in the Elmet constituency receive a free TV licence.

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, 2001 Census data for parliamentary constituencies identifies 7,131 people aged 75 or over living in the Elmet constituency.

Audio-description Technology

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she is working with interested parties to encourage the development of audio-description technology adapted for (a) museum and heritage collections and (b) visual arts work.

Estelle Morris: DCMS and its sponsored bodies have undertaken a range of initiatives aimed at increasing the use of audio description, which, through visual information and interpretive commentary, can greatly enhance appreciation of cultural exhibits and sites by visually-impaired people. Some of the key initiatives are as follows.
	Arts Council England (ACE) and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), with support from English Heritage, funded the "Talking Images" project managed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, which resulted in extensive guidance for museums, galleries and heritage sites on how to provide audio description and venue access, including a technical specification for user-friendly audio-guide equipment.
	MLA has produced further guidance on inclusive technology, distributed to more than 3,000 museums, libraries and archives, and is also promoting technical web-accessibility for online cultural collections, so that new services such as audio description can be easily accessed. An example of innovation in this area is the Tate Modern's imap website, which uses audio description and images adapted for the partially-sighted through heightened colour contrast.
	English Heritage has audio guides at over 50 of its properties and is looking to increase this number. Many sites also have set tours for the visually-impaired and interactive audio tours. English Heritage has also produced a guide on improving access for blind and partially-sighted people.

Casinos

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the permitted areas where casinos may be established under the Gaming Act 1968; and in which of those areas casinos are not currently operating.

Richard Caborn: The areas where casinos are allowed to operate under the Gaming Clubs (Permitted Areas) Regulations 1971 are as follows:
	London
	That area which is within the area specified in the licensing (Metropolitan Special Hours Area) Order 1961—plus the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
	The rest of England, Wales and Scotland
	The areas of the former county boroughs, non-county boroughs and urban districts of:
	Aberdeen
	Birkenhead
	Birmingham
	Blackpool
	Bolton
	Bournemouth
	Bradford
	Brighton
	Bristol
	Cardiff
	Coventry
	Derby
	Dudley
	Dundee
	Edinburgh
	Glasgow
	Great Yarmouth
	Hove
	Huddersfield
	Kingston upon Hull
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Lytham St. Annes
	Manchester
	Margate
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Northampton
	Nottingham
	Plymouth
	Portsmouth
	Ramsgate
	Reading
	Ryde
	Salford
	Sandown/Shanklin
	Scarborough
	Sheffield
	Southampton
	Southend-on-Sea
	Southport
	Stockport
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Sunderland
	Swansea
	Teesside/Middlesbrough
	Torbay
	Walsall
	Warley
	West Bromwich
	Wolverhampton.
	There are currently no casinos operating in Ryde, Sandown/Shanklin or Warley.

Cricket Tours

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the International Cricket Council regarding the rules operated by the ICC in respect of cricket tour cancellations.

Richard Caborn: The Government have not discussed the rules about cricket tour cancellations with the International Cricket Council. This is a matter between the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Departmental Buildings

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many buildings in England owned by her Department are used at less than 25 per cent. capacity for more than three months of the year.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport leases four buildings or part buildings in London, none of which, ever fall to an occupancy level as low as 25 per cent.

Electronic Programme Guides

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will request that Ofcom include a requirement for a periodic review of the ordering of channels on electronic programme guides (EPGs) in its new code of practice for EPG providers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of television channels' positioning on the electronic programme guides on viewer choice; what steps she intends to take to ensure that EPG providers facilitate a reordering of channels disadvantaged by their EPG listing; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with Ofcom about the role of the electronic programme guide in promoting fair competition between the UK 24-hour news sources on digital television; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what discussions she has had with Ofcom about whether the new electronic programme guide code will include a requirement for a review of channel ordering on the EPG; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The regulation of electronic programme guides is a matter for Ofcom and therefore I have not had any detailed discussions with them on this matter.
	Under section 310 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom has to draw up a code giving guidance as to the practices to be followed in the provision of electronic programme guides. Ofcom must review and revise this code from time to time.
	In their consultation on this issue, Ofcom stated that they intend to review the code at intervals of no more than two years, or more frequently if circumstances warrant it. They proposed that the code should require all EPG providers to have an objectively justifiable method of allocating listings and stressed that this does not preclude different methodsfor example, objectively justifiable methods could include, first come first served listings, alphabetical listings and those based on audience shares.
	In their consultation on the regulation of electronic programme guides, Ofcom state that discriminatory treatment of a channel in terms of listings or presentation would constrain its ability to compete effectively with other channels for audience share and advertising revenue and would thus be prejudicial to fair and effective competition.

Intellectual Property Rights

Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who the members are of the forum on intellectual property rights being established jointly by her right hon. Friends the Minister for the Arts and the Minister for Science and Innovation; what sectors they represent; what the agenda will be for the forum's work; and what timetable it will be working to.

Estelle Morris: This Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are currently finalising details of the forum. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Sports Spectators

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people watched professional (a) rugby league, (b) football, (c) rugby union and (d) cricket in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: In 2003, around 1.6 million people attended professional Rugby League matches: 1.4 million at Super League matches; 100,000 at Challenge Cup ties; 100,000 at National League matches.
	In the 200304 football season, 29 million people attended Premier League and Football League matches: 13.3 million at Premier League games; 16 million at Football League matches (Divisions 1, 2 and 3).
	In 2003, around 4.5 million people attended Rugby Union matches in Britain: 3.4 million attending international matches; 1.1 million at Zurich Premiership matches.
	In the May to September 2003 cricket season around 1.9 million people attended cricket matches in England: 630,000 attending international games; 1.3 million attending domestic cricket matches.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Speed Cameras (West Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in the last year for which records are available in (a) West Sussex and (b) the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency.

Caroline Flint: Information on the revenue raised from speed offences detected by camera is not available.
	Available information on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid within the Sussex police force area for the offence of 'speeding detected by camera' in 2002 is shown in the table. It is not possible from the data collected centrally to identify the county of West Sussex and the constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham within the geographical area of the Sussex police force.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(23) in the Sussex police force area, 2002 -- Rounded
		
			  2001 
		
		
			 Fixed penalties  
			 Number of tickets(24) 19,000 
			 Estimated revenue ()(25) 1,141,000 
			   
			 Court proceedings 4  
			 Number of fines 610 
			 Total amount of fine () 54,700 
			 Average fine () 90 
		
	
	(23) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(24) Paid i.e. no further action.
	(25) Estimate based on 60 penalty charge.
	(26) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.

Correspondence

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Wrexham of 23 October 2003 in connection with Mr. Jama Ali Farah (ref. F1036752).

Des Browne: Officials at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied on 3 November 2003 to my hon. Friend's letter of 23 October 2003.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive a response to his letter of 7 April 2004, reference PO4301/4.

Des Browne: holding answer 20 May 2004
	I wrote to the hon. Member's letter on 25 May 2004.

Criminal Justice

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Transport on reform of the criminal justice system.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office is in regular contact with the Department for Transport on criminal justice issues, including sentencing, support for victims of road crash incidents and road traffic policing.

Criminal Justice

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for each local criminal justice board in 200405; and what the proposed budget is for 200506.

Paul Goggins: The amount of funding from the centre to support the activities of each Local Criminal Justice Board in 200405 has yet to be agreed but it is hoped that it will be at least equal to the 40,000 that was provided to each Local Criminal Justice Board in 200304. The final sum provided in 200405 will be in addition to the salary cost paid by the centre for the support provided by the Performance Officer to each Local Criminal Justice Board area. The proposed budget for 200506 will not be known until after the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review has been considered.

Criminal Justice

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the criminal justice boardswhere representatives of Victim Support are (a) full members of the Board and (b) attend board meetings.

Paul Goggins: The four Criminal Justice Boards where representatives of Victim Support are full members of the Board are Avon and Somerset, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and London.
	Attendance at Local Board meetings is a matter for each Board's discretion. However, Boards where the Victim Support representative may, on occasion, attend board meetings as a member of a Victim and Witness sub-group include Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Durham, Dyfed Powys, Essex, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Sussex, Thames Valley, Warwickshire and West Yorkshire. In addition to this, a Victim Support representative is a member of the Merseyside Advisory Group and therefore may possibly attend some of the Board meetings.

Drugs Testing/Treatment

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drugs testing and treatment orders were issued in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 22 March 2004
	Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs) have been available since October 2000 when they were rolled out nationally following an 18-month pilot period in three areas. The London Probation Area is required to submit monthly figures to the National Probation Directorate pertaining to the number of Orders made but is not required to break this down by boroughs. The breakdown by borough shown in Annexes A and B has been obtained from London Probation Area records.
	The number of orders made in each year from October 2000 to February 2004 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number  
		
		
			 October 2000 to March 2001 251 (not available by borough) 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 556 (not available by borough) 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 715 (by borough at Annex A) 
			 April 2003 to February 2004 941 (by borough at Annex B) 
		
	
	
		Annex A: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders made in London between April 2002 to March 2003 by borough
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Bexley 11 
			 Greenwich 32 
			 Brent 23 
			 Harrow 10 
			 Ealing 33 
			 Hillingdon 7 
			 Hounslow 22 
			 Barnet 16 
			 Enfield 27 
			 Haringey 38 
			 Bromley 18 
			 Croydon 44 
			 Camden 35 
			 Islington 28 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 12 
			 Westminster 12 
			 City 0 
			 Hackney 43 
			 Newham 21 
			 Tower Hamlets 22 
			 Lambeth 39 
			 Lewisham 25 
			 Southwark 45 
			 Barking and Dagenham 15 
			 Havering 9 
			 Redbridge 21 
			 Waltham Forrest 17 
			 Kingston 7 
			 Merton 10 
			 Richmond 3 
			 Sutton 12 
			 Wandsworth 29 
			 Total 702 
		
	
	Note:
	In addition, 13 orders were made in London on offenders of No Fixed Abode in any borough.
	
		Annex B: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders made in London between April 2003February 2004 by borough
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Bexley 8 
			 Greenwich 37 
			 Brent 30 
			 Harrow 14 
			 Eating 37 
			 Hillingdon 27 
			 Hounslow 24 
			 Barnet 22 
			 Enfield 31 
			 Haringey 41 
			 Bromley 23 
			 Croydon 35 
			 Camden 47 
			 Islington 35 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 24 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 16 
			 Westminster 34 
			 City 0 
			 Hackney 34 
			 Newham 35 
			 Tower Hamlets 44 
			 Lambeth 53 
			 Lewisham 47 
			 Southwark 62 
			 Barking and Dagenham 21 
			 Havering 7 
			 Redbridge 17 
			 Waltham Forrest 30 
			 Kingston 7 
			 Merton 15 
			 Richmond 6 
			 Sutton 19 
			 Wandsworth 53 
			 Total 935 
		
	
	Note:
	In addition, six orders were made in London on offenders of No Fixed Abode in any borough.

Fines

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of fines was collected by each local criminal justice board in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) do not directly collect fines. Fine enforcement is the responsibility of local Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs). But, given the importance of fine enforcement to public confidence in the Criminal Justice System, LCJBs are encouraged to monitor and to work jointly to improve payment rates within their local areas.
	The table shows the payment rate for April 2003 to March 2004 for each of the 42 local MCCs. This represents the total value of fines (excluding confiscation orders) collected as a percentage of the total value of fines imposed over this period. The Department for Constitutional Affairs set MCCs a target of 75 per cent. for the year ending March 2004. Note that it is possible for an area's payment rate to exceed 100 per cent. if a sufficiently high value of fines imposed prior to April 2003 are collected.
	
		
			Payment rate (Percentage) 
			 Magistrates' Court Committee Q4 (January to Mar 2004) Year 200304 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 77 83 
			 Bedfordshire 84 80 
			 Cambridgeshire 110 100 
			 Cheshire 78 82 
			 Cleveland 114 91 
			 Cumbria 91 93 
			 Derbyshire 89 79 
			 Devon and Cornwall 55 68 
			 Dorset 69 72 
			 Durham 93 90 
			 Dyfed Powys 102 81 
			 Essex 109 94 
			 Gloucestershire 61 95 
			 Greater London 82 66 
			 Greater Manchester 72 64 
			 Gwent 84 85 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 68 86 
			 Hertfordshire 63 68 
			 Humberside 87 96 
			 Kent 78 78 
			 Lancashire 90 86 
			 Leicestershire 73 69 
			 Lincolnshire 75 75 
			 Merseyside 51 59 
			 Norfolk 85 79 
			 North Wales 75 89 
			 North Yorkshire 138 98 
			 Northamptonshire 81 96 
			 Northumbria 81 82 
			 Nottinghamshire 68 72 
			 South Wales 76 76 
			 South Yorkshire 101 81 
			 Staffordshire 67 78 
			 Suffolk 71 80 
			 Surrey 77 74 
			 Sussex 95 100 
			 Thames Valley 63 65 
			 Warwickshire 80 94 
			 West Mercia 74 79 
			 West Midlands 54 53 
			 West Yorkshire 69 58 
			 Wiltshire 92 94 
			
			 England and Wales 76 74

Gun Crime

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police regarding the use of informants in cases of gun crime.

Caroline Flint: The use of informants in cases of gun crime is subject to the standard police operating procedures, which apply generally in relation to the use of informants.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were recalled for failing to adhere to home detention conditions during January and February in each prison region.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 23 March 2004
	The number of prisoners who were recalled for failing to adhere to the home detention curfew conditions during January and February 2004, by Prison Service management region, is given in the table.
	
		HOC recalls, by Prison Service management area from which the prisoner was discharged
		
			  January 2004 February 2004 
		
		
			 All Establishments 220 189 
			 North East 5 3 
			 Yorks and Humberside 20 18 
			 East Midlands (N) 10 9 
			 North West 20 19 
			 East Midlands (S) 15 14 
			 Eastern 15 19 
			 West Midlands 31 22 
			 Wales 6 4 
			 South West 15 16 
			 Thames Valley and Hants 5 7 
			 Kent Surrey and Sussex 12 6 
			 London 8 9 
			 Female Estate 32 20 
			 Juveniles Estate 2 2 
			 High Security Estate 8 8 
			 Contracted Out 16 13

Illegal Arms Trade (Nuclear Weapons)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether investigations by the police authorities have been undertaken in respect of individuals and companies for the offence of assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas, in particular for developing, producing or participating in the development or production of a nuclear weapon; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Investigation and prosecution of offences involving assisting or inducing weapons-related acts overseas is the responsibility of HM Customs and Excise. However, Customs' cannot comment on whether a matter is under current investigation; Exemption 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Open Government Code applies.
	Customs have an important role in countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They work closely with other Government Departments and agencies, in the UK and overseas, to ensure that effective action is taken against proliferators.
	Any prosecution for such offences require the consent of the Attorney-General.

Immigration Training

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was provided to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to provide immigration training for voluntary sector workers in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004.

Des Browne: The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), in its annual business plan, submits its budget proposals to the Home Office for approval. The total budget allocation is then paid, in monthly grant in aid payments, to the OISC, which then has authority to incur the expenditure approved without further reference to the Department.
	The OISC community training budgets for the relevant period, which have been approved by the Home Office, were:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 200203 200,000 
			 200304 175,000 
			 200405 170,000

National Identity Register

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances the police would be authorised to access data stored on the National Identity Register.

Des Browne: It is incorrect to say that any body or person will have access to the register, rather the legislation will permit the Secretary of Sate to disclose information where a person consents or, where a person does not consent, only for specified purposes to specified persons.
	People will therefore be free to produce an identity card on a voluntary basis, including to a police officer, as a means of establishing their identity.
	There is an exception to the general bar on disclosing information from the register without consent where disclosure to the police is in the interests of national security and for the prevention and investigation of crime, as set out in Clause 20(3) of the draft Identity Cards Bill. Such disclosure may be authorised only where the Secretary of State is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for the police to have obtained the information by other means. For example, if fingerprint information is recorded on the register, the police would first have to search their own fingerprint records before resorting to the register. In addition, Clause 24(2) enables the Secretary of State to impose other requirements that must be satisfied before such a disclosure is made.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the investigatory report referred to in the letter to the hon. Member for Totnes from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State dated 17 March 2004, regarding the treatment of Mr. Torben Vannan and Mr. Calvin John Vannan at Heathrow airport on 15 February 2004.

Des Browne: I apologise for the delay in providing a substantive response to the hon. Member's letter of 3 March.
	The investigating officer has now completed his report, and I wrote on 25 May detailing the outcome of the inquiries into the concerns he raised.

Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 29 January 2004, reference 152236.

Paul Goggins: I replied to the hon. Member on 26 April 2004, Official Report, column 759W.

Police (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether radios used by Lancashire police work in adjoining police areas; and whether they are compatible with radios used by (a) Cumbria, (b) Merseyside and (c) Greater Manchester police forces.

Caroline Flint: Operational arrangements are in place to ensure that Lancashire police can communicate with neighbouring forces.
	Lancashire police can already communicate seamlessly with Greater Manchester police using the new Airwave system. Airwave will be available in Merseyside and Cumbria by the end of March 2005.

Probation Service

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget was set for the National Probation Directorate at the commencement of the financial year 200304; what the change in gross provision was; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 May 2004, Official Report, column 860W.

Racial Equality

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Commission for Racial Equality's section 44 funding is for 200405, broken down by region.

Fiona Mactaggart: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 May 2004, Official Report, column 862W.

Racial Equality

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the panel members who decided Commission for Racial Equality section 44 funding for 200405.

Fiona Mactaggart: The members of the Communities and Partnerships Committee who made the decisions on Getting Results funding this year were as follows:
	Kay Hampton (Committee Chair)
	Trevor Phillips
	Gloria Mills
	Julia Chain
	Khurshid Ahmed

Security Cameras

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in Manchester, Central since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Since 1997, the Home Office has provided 3,515,685 to Manchester City Council for Close Circuit Television schemes.
	Allocation of that funding locally is a matter for Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police. The information is not held centrally.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Illegal Websites

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many websites regulatory bodies have closed down because of the presence of illegal images and content in each of the last two years.

Stephen Timms: In the UK the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is charged with the responsibility of managing consumer complaints about potentially illegal content online.
	The IWF's Internet Hotline deals with reports of potentially illegal Internet content, such as websites, newsgroups and online groups that contain: images of child abuse anywhere in the world; adult material that potentially breaches the Obscene Publications Act in the UK; and criminally racist material in the UK. Statistics taken from the IWF's annual reports show that in 2002, 88 UK websites and in 2003, 34 UK websites were removed due to potentially illegal content. For images of child abuse hosted overseas the information is passed to IWF's counterparts and law enforcement agencies in those countries and there are no statistics on how many of these sites have been closed down.

Advantage West Midlands

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff were employed in a press office or public relations capacity (a) by Advantage West Midlands and (b) by each regional development agency in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2002 and (v) 2003.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 May 2004
	The information requested is set out in the following table.
	Answers calculated as equivalent full-time posts:
	
		
			 RDA 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 0 0 1 3 3 
			 East of England Development Agency 2.5 3 3.25 3.25 3.5 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 0 0 (27)0 2 2 
			 London Development Agency 0 0 0 5 5 
			 North West Development Agency 0 0 4 5 7 
			 ONE North East 6 6 6 6 7 
			 South East England Development Agency 1.4 2.25 2.1 3.7 5.6 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 1 1 3 4 5 
			 Yorkshire Forward 2 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 
		
	
	(27) Between these years, emda outsourced to an agency.

Beagle Project

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to publish the inquiry into the Beagle project.

Patricia Hewitt: The recommendations from the Report of the Inquiry into the Beagle project will be published on 24 May 2004. The Inquiry covered a wide range of important issues of concern to the United Kingdom, the European Space Agency (ESA) and other member states in ESA. Some of these matters are necessarily confidential, or commercially sensitive to firms in the United Kingdom, so the full report cannot be published under Exemption 1Defence Security and International Relations and Exemption 13 Third Party Commercial Confidence's of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Copies of the recommendations will be placed in the Libraries of House.

Belize

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of (a) imports and (b) exports to Belize in each of the past 25 years in real terms.

Mike O'Brien: Information on the UK's trade with Belize in real terms is not available. Data on trade at current prices are given in the following table.
	
		UK trade in goods with Belize 19792003 --  million, current prices
		
			  UK Exports UK Imports 
		
		
			 1979 10.4 12.1 
			 1980 9.4 13.2 
			 1981 10.0 15.1 
			 1982 10.4 13.3 
			 1983 8.7 11.6 
			 1984 11.5 15.9 
			 1985 8.3 15.0 
			 1986 8.2 18.0 
			 1987 7.5 22.8 
			 1988 12.1 22.5 
			 1989 11.8 24.3 
			 1990 12.4 22.7 
			 1991 14.6 20.8 
			 1992 11.1 32.2 
			 1993 16.6 37.4 
			 1994 12.8 42.5 
			 1995 14.3 47.0 
			 1996 10.2 47.9 
			 1997 13.6 36.3 
			 1998 11.6 33.6 
			 1999 11.7 43.2 
			 2000 11.5 39.6 
			 2001 13.8 34.9 
			 2002 13.7 31.6 
			 2003 17.4 42.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Compiled by SU Statistics from HM Customs  Excise data.

Competitiveness Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council of 17 to 18 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I represented the UK at the Competitiveness Council on 1718 May 2004.
	The Council held a debate on better regulation and on competitiveness and innovation, based on a number of documents covering: industry policy; the strategy for life sciences and biotechnology; proactive competition policy; and the latest state aid scoreboard. Ministers emphasised the need for reduced, simpler regulation the importance of SMEs, innovation, the need for new policies to stimulate private investment in scientific research, and the development of close links between industry and universities. The UK drew attention to the need for economic reform and structural change, and called for the Council to match its broad aspirations with decisions on key dossiers.
	Two sets of Council Conclusions on Better Regulation, and on Competitiveness and Innovation were formally agreed.
	Ministers exchanged views on the proposed Chemicals Regulation (REACH). The discussion focused on three key areas: registration, manufacturers' duty of care, and the role of the EU Chemicals Agency. Ministers stressed the importance of striking the right balance between ensuring that the EU chemicals industry remains competitive and delivering benefits for human health and the environment.
	The UK advocated a system of One substance-One registration. Most member states expressed support for the principle, but said that the proposal needed further development. The presidency invited the UK to bring forward its proposal as soon as possible, and asked the working group to do further work on the other aspects of registration and the role of the Chemicals Agency.
	Commissioner Busquin gave a brief update on the negotiations on the International Thermonuclear Experimental reactor (ITER), with the aim of securing the ITER site in the EU.
	The Council discussed the Commission's proposals on the admission of third country nationals to carry out scientific research in the EU. The Council recognised that it was vital for the EU to have more researchers and largely welcomed the proposal.
	However, the Council noted that further work was needed to refine the proposal, in particular in relation to the role and responsibilities of the host organisation, whether to differentiate between public and private organisations, and the procedures for family reunification. These messages are to be passed to the President of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
	In the absence of an expected Commission Communication, Commissioner Busquin gave a brief presentation on the Future of European research.
	The Council reached agreement on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. The UK supported the Directive's aim of harmonising national consumer protection laws against unfair commercial marketing and advertising.
	The Presidency confirmed that a first reading agreement had been reached with the European Parliament on the Regulation on Consumer Protection Co-Operation. The aim of the Regulation is to promote co-operation between national authorities on the enforcement of consumer protection legislation.
	The Council was unable to reach agreement on a Regulation on Sales Promotion. The proposal aims to create a harmonised regime for sales promotions involving offers of discounts, free gifts, premiums, and promotional games and contests.
	Member states were unable to reach agreement on the Country of Origin principle, as well as a number of other issues, notably: promotional games, information requirements, and the application of the Regulation to pharmaceuticals.
	Discussion on the final outstanding points on the Regulation to establish a Community Patent continued at the Council. Member states could not agree on the legal effect of translations of a patent claim and the length of time for filing such translations. Germany, France, Spain and Portugal all indicated they could not support the Presidency compromise text. The Presidency stated it would bring the matter to the attention of the President of the European Council.
	The Council reached political agreement on a common position on a Directive on the Patentability of Computer-Implemented Inventions. The Directive contains provisions in accordance with the practice of the European Patent Organisation on the patentability of such inventions.
	The Council also reached political agreement on a common position on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive. The Directive aims to create a clearer system for the recognition of qualifications in the field of regulated professions by consolidating 15 Directives covering all professions into a single legislative text.
	Political agreement on a common position was reached on a Regulation to amend the Community Customs Code, which aims to improve security at EU external frontiers.
	The UK voted in favour of all of the legislative measures agreed at the Council.

Computer File Formats

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents.

Patricia Hewitt: Publicly available documents are distributed through the DTI websites predominantly in HTML and PDF to ensure that the information is as   widely accessible as possible. On the main DTI website formal publications are available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/publications/.
	We are proposing to archive and preserve electronic publications within the Department's electronic record and document management system in the format in which they were published. We will be reviewing this approach in discussion with the National Archives.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she has taken in response to the report entitled Unanswered Questions, Companies, Conflict, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 24 May 2004
	This report, which poses questions primarily based on the published UN reports, is being studied with interest. We have contact with Rights and Accountability in Development, the authors of this report.

Departmental Annual Report

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons were for the increase in the total net administration costs of her Department between 200203 and 200304 as set out in the Departmental Report 2004, Cm 6216, page 161.

Patricia Hewitt: As is the standard approach, the 2004 Departmental Report provides an-actual outturn figure for 200203 and an estimated outturn figure for 200304. These two figures are not equivalent and cannot be compared directly. The actual outturn figure for 200304 will be published in the 2005 Departmental Report.
	The actual outturn figure for 200304 was lower than estimated, mainly due to the generation of additional receipts, and some technical accounting adjustments. On an equivalent basis, the net administration cost for 200203, was 16 million higher than 200203, and this was awarded through Spending Review 2002. The reasons for this were an additional 8 million for front line services in the Employment Tribunals Service, ACAS and The Insolvency Service, 5 million for electronic Government IT services and an additional 3 million covering a range of activities across the Department.

Departmental Publications

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 10 May2004, Official Report, column 79W, on departmental publications, if she will provide the information her Department holds centrally on the newspapers, magazines and periodicals for which it is responsible.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 18 May 2004
	I am enclosing a list of serial publications as notified to my Department's Publications Unit. The list is of serial publications (excluding annual publications) that were produced between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 and contains a brief description of each publication's subject matter.
	
		
			 Publication title Subject matter 
		
		
			 Automotive industries: driving towards a cleaner future. Issue 1 IndustryAutomotive 
			 Biotech advantage: making the best use of intellectual property from bioscience IndustryBiotechnology 
			 Biotechnology: the science of the 21st century. Issue 1 IndustryBiotechnology 
			 Bio-wise newsletter IndustryBiotechnology 
			 Cleaner coal research matters EnergyCleaner Coal Technology Programme 
			 Compensation for miners: coal health claims newsletter. Latest issue 8, spring 2004 Mining 
			 East midlands news: the newsletter of export support activity in the East Midlands UK Trade and Investment 
			 ENERGIE focus Energy 
			 Energy trends Energy 
			 Environmental opportunities: the magazine for the environmental goods and services industry Environment 
			 Environmental technologies: UK greening up. Issue 1 Environment 
			 e-sight. (Internet only) Science and Technology 
			 Food and drink. UK: an appetite for business. Issue 1 Manufacturing 
			 Global Watch Science and Technology 
			 Hawliadaou Afiechydon Glo. Llythyr newyddion 8. Gwanwyn 2004 Mining 
			 Information communications technologies: UK at the hub of the business network. Issue 1 Information and Communication Technology 
			 Invest.UK: key facts Inward Investment 
			 Joint energy security of supply working group (JESS): third report. Energy 
			 Key facts UK Trade and Investment 
			 Korean advisers group newsletter UK Trade and Investment 
			 lawndal I Lowyr. Hawliadau Afiechydon Glo. Llythyr newyddion 7, hydref 2003 Mining 
			 LBP news Business Support Services 
			 Machinery: independent sources of advice Standards 
			 Machinery: transposed harmonised standards Standards 
			 Machinery: UK approved bodies Standards 
			 Monthly bulletin of indices: price adjustment formulae for construction contracts IndustryConstruction 
			 Monthly statement of bricks, blocks and cement IndustryConstruction 
			 Monthly statistics of building materials and components IndustryConstruction 
			 New review EnergyNew and Renewable, General 
			 North America News UK Trade and Investment 
			 Objective: the UK structural funds newsletter European Union 
			 Overseas trade: the Trade Partners UK magazine for trade promotion and development UK Trade and Investment 
			 Pressure equipment: United Kingdom conformity assessment bodies. (Internet only) Standards 
			 Quality mark newsletter IndustryConstruction 
			 Quarterly building price and cost indices: public sector construction works IndustryConstruction 
			 Quarterly energy prices Energy 
			 Regional competitiveness and state of the regions Competitiveness 
			 Space UK: forum for space news Space 
			 Telcommunications: UK at the hub of the telecommunications revolution. Issue 1 Telecommunications 
			 Telecom times. (Internet only) Telecommunications 
			 The manufacturing advisory service newsletter Manufacturing 
			 TPI news Environment 
			 UKTI Investment Bulletin UK Trade and Investment 
			 UKWatch: spotlight on British innovation UK Trade and Investment 
			 Updating percentages: adjustments for measured term contracts IndustryConstruction

Discrimination Law

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many proceedings were brought by employees under discrimination law in each year since 1997 concerning (a) sexual orientation and (b) religious belief; and what estimate she has made of the number of such proceedings in 2004 to 2006.

Patricia Hewitt: The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 and 2 December 2003 respectively. These Regulations give all workers a right to bring Employment Tribunal proceedings about discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, or religion or belief, a right which did not in general exist before.
	In the period December 2003 to April 2004 there have been 30 Employment Tribunal applications registered by the Employment Tribunals Service relating to sexual orientation and 22 applications relating to religion or belief. These figures will be included with others in the Employment Tribunals Service's Annual Report, which is due to be published and laid before the House in mid-July.
	In the Regulatory Impact Assessments prepared for the above Regulations, the DTI estimated that there would be around 1,000 applications a year relating to sexual orientation and around 1,000 applications a year relating to religion or belief.

Domestic Heating

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of domestic properties in Great Britain are heated by (a) electricity, (b) solid fuel and (c) natural gas.

Stephen Timms: Information on the fuels used to heat domestic properties in Great Britain is published by BRE in its Domestic Energy Fact File. The latest available data relate to 2001, and are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Main form of heating in 2001 (percentage) 
			 Type of dwelling Number of homes Solid fuel heating Electric heating Gas heating Oil heating Other form of heating 
		
		
			 Centrally heated 22,030,000 3.02 10.78 79.79 4.29 2.12 
			 Non-centrally heated 2,392,000 12.76 31.25 53.35 0.00 2.64 
			 All 24,422,000 3.98 12.78 77.20 3.87 2.17

ECGD

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place research conducted on the competitive environment of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the Library.

Mike O'Brien: In April 2004 ECGD published its International Comparison Report, which compares ECGD with other large export credit agencies. The report is already available on ECGD's website but a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

ECGD

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance is given by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to UK companies wishing to trade with Russia.

Mike O'Brien: The Export Credits Guarantee Department can offer medium term cover on individual cases in Russia with a value of up to 80 million although much larger cases can be considered. ECGD is also able to offer Overseas Investment Insurance to protect UK direct investment in Russia against the risks of war, expropriation and restrictions on remittances.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the costs that will be incurred by businesses in dealing with the guidance of the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and what assessment has been made of the costs that will be incurred by businesses in complying with its codes of practice.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government published the White Paper Fairness for All: A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights on Wednesday 12 May 2003. The White Paper sets out our proposals for a new body to meet the challenges we must overcome if we are to end discrimination and promote respect for human rights. The establishment of a single organisation to champion equality, diversity and human rights meets the strong call from the business community for a more joined-up approach to these issues.
	An assessment of the costs to businesses due to the creation of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) has been made in the Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), which forms part of the White Paper. As the establishment of the CEHR imposes no new regulatory burden on business there will be no costs associated with complying with guidance or codes of practice issued by the CEHR, other than where a business is currently in breach of existing legislation. Guidance and codes of practice issued by the CEHR will make businesses more aware of their legal responsibilities, thus reducing the risk of litigation.
	Nevertheless, there may be small costs associated with reading and understanding initial guidance issued by the CEHR, estimated to be around 39 per business. However as this guidance is likely to cover all areas of discrimination and human rights legislation it should offer an overall saving in time and cost spent in reading guidance related to each individual area, as is currently the case.

EU Social Chapter

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the effects of the EU Social Chapter on the residents of Blackpool North and Fleetwood.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The residents of Blackpool North and Fleetwood have benefited from the EU Social Chapter by having their employment rights extended to include:
	the right to Parental Leave which gives parents the right to 13 weeks unpaid leave at the birth or adoption of a child;
	the entitlement of part-time workers to the same pro-rata terms and conditions of employment as full time workers, thereby removing any discrimination and improving the quality of part-time jobs;
	the provision that once a prima facie case has been made in an employment tribunal claim, the burden of proof is placed on the defendant (usually the employer), who will need to demonstrate that sex discrimination has not occurred;
	rights under the Fixed Term Work Directive that provide equal treatment and prevent abuse of fixed term contracts;
	rights under the European Works Council Directive which requires companies with at least 1000 employees in total and at least 150 workers in each of the two Member States, to establish structures for consulting workers on issues that affect them and;
	In addition, the Information and Consultation of Employees Directive to be implemented in the UK by March 2005, establishes a right to new minimum standards for workforce communication and involvement in large firms.

Fuel Crisis (Emergency Powers)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the legal basis is for the use of emergency powers to secure energy supplies during a fuel crisis; and what parliamentary scrutiny there has been of the emergency powers which would be used to secure energy supplies during a fuel crisis.

Stephen Timms: The Energy Act 1976 allows the regulation or prohibition of the production, supply, acquisition or use of fuel where there is or is imminent an actual or threatened emergency in the UK affecting fuel or electricity supplies or to meet international obligations. The Act provides wide-ranging powers to make Orders of general application (subject to negative parliamentary procedure) and specific directions to particular persons (including companies). An Order would lapse after 28 sitting (parliamentary) days, unless it is revoked earlier or the Order is approved by affirmative resolution of both Houses and which then continues for the rest of the 12- month period, unless revoked earlier. The Act provides that the Order may be continued for 12-month periods more than once, each time after resolution of both Houses.

Invest-UK Activities

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the numbers of jobs that were (a) created and (b) safeguarded as a result of Invest-UK activities in each year between 2000 and 2003.

Mike O'Brien: The following figures are UK Trade and Investment's assisted inward investors' estimates of job creation in the first three years of their investments:
	
		
			  Jobs created Jobs safeguarded 
		
		
			 200001 15,857 6,624 
			 200102 4,299 1,252 
			 200203 5,669 3,048 
		
	
	In addition UKTI provides funding to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), and publicises the UK generally as a good destination for inward investors. Inward investors' estimates of the total number of jobs created and safeguarded is as follows:
	
		
			  Jobs created Jobs safeguarded 
		
		
			 200001 71,168 52,359 
			 200102 35,362 24,069 
			 200203 34,850 20,265

Nuclear Industry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is for retaining a skill base for the nuclear industry in the UK.

Stephen Timms: To fulfil the Government's policy commitment to develop and implement a nuclear work force development strategy the Department has been closely involved with the formation of a Sector Skills Council to represent the needs of the nuclear industry. Cogent Sector Skills Council was launched on 2 March, covering nuclear, chemical manufacturing and oil and gas industries. Cogent will take a strategic view of the nuclear sector to ensure that the education and training base can meet the nuclear employers current and future needs.

Nuclear Industry

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many instances of theft of (a) nuclear waste and (b) spent fuel rods from nuclear plants in the UK were reported to the police in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Stephen Timms: There were no reported thefts of nuclear waste or spent fuel rods from civil nuclear sites in the years specified.

Petrol Prices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions the Government has had with oil producers on reducing the price of petrol.

Stephen Timms: International oil prices are one of a number of factors that influence the price of petrol.
	Other Ministers, officials and myself meet bilaterally and multilaterally with representatives of oil producing nations on a regular basis as part of our ongoing dialogue with oil and gas producing countries. For example, I led a UK delegation to the International Energy Forum in Amsterdam, 2224 May 2004, for informal discussions between producing and consuming nations on a wide range of energy issues.
	At the recent IMF meeting we joined other countries in expressing our concern at the high level of the oil price as one of the risks to the world recovery. There are a number of factors underlying the current high price but we are urging oil producers to increase production to help reduce the price to a more sustainable level.

Productivity

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is for (a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 14849W.

Remote Wind Generation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy takes account of the cost estimated by Ofgem of reinforcing the transmission grid in order to cope with the scale of wind farm development envisaged.

Stephen Timms: The Government have already undertaken a significant amount of analysis both prior to and after the 2003 Energy White Paper on the costs associated with incorporating increasing amounts of renewable generation into the electricity network.
	We believe the right framework is in place to deliver the reinforcement of the transmission grid needed to support the Government's energy policy objectives. The transmission operators are responding to the increased level of demand for connections to the system from renewable energy generators. The market is regulated by Ofgem to ensure that investment in new transmission infrastructure is cost efficient and the consumer is protected from the consequences of unnecessary transmission expenditure. In addition, the industry is working to ensure that wind and other renewable generation connection to the system in future will have the characteristics necessary to maintain the integrity of the electricity networks.

Remote Wind Generation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government's energy policy for large-scale intermittent wind power generation addresses the diseconomy of part-time operation thereby forced upon the necessary conventional back-up; and how this deterrent to back-up generation will affect the risks to security and stability.

Stephen Timms: Although wind generation is undoubtedly less predictable and more intermittent than conventional generation, when aggregated nationally, the implications for the operation of the electricity system are significantly mitigated. Work by the National Grid Company indicates that it will be some years before the growth in wind generation has a noticeable impact on overall reserve plant requirements, although there will come a time when additional reserve will be required.
	The impact of this in reduced overall efficiency of generation and associated increase in emissions will be negligible compared with the savings in emissions realised by the operation of the wind generation itself. Nevertheless, the Government in conjunction with the electricity industry, is exploring possible means of further mitigating the effects of intermittency and unpredictability.

Renewable Energy (Oldham, West and Royton)

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of recent trends in investment in renewable energy on residents of Oldham West and Royton.

Stephen Timms: As I far as I am aware recent trends in investment have not led directly to new renewables capacity in Oldham West and Royton itself.
	However, there are a number of proposals for developments in the surrounding area. United Utilities have already submitted a section 36 application for a 26 turbine development at Scout Moor, and an application for a two turbine development at Uglow Moor has also been submitted. There are also a number of solar PV developments (both constructed and under assessment) in nearby Rochdale and Bury.

Software Patents

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Council of Ministers will next discuss the proposed European Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions; and if she will oppose any proposals during the discussions for the extension of software patents.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 20 May 2004
	The competitiveness council discussed the proposed Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions at its meeting on 17 and 18 May 2004, which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions attended for the UK. The position of the UK Government has always been to clarify the law on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, not to change the extent of patentability. Political agreement was reached on a revised text. The UK supported the Directive in the Council and we would oppose any proposal for the extension of software patents.

Trade Shows

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the benefits provided by Government-selected sponsors to UK firms that receive grants to help co-ordinate trade shows abroad.

Mike O'Brien: Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) add value to Government grants by providing support services to exhibitors before, during and after the event. The performance of each ATO is assessed by customer satisfaction scores, compliance with the terms and conditions of the support scheme and contribution to UK Trade and Investment targets on developing new and new-to-market exporters. All ATOs must maintain a basic level of performance to remain accredited, and future budget allocations to ATOs are linked to performance.
	Surveys carried out by the University of Reading estimate that 70 per cent. of companies receiving exhibition grants through ATOs register a sustainable improvement in their business performance.

Trade Shows

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money her Department has paid to small firms for help in co-ordinating trade fairs abroad in each of the last five years; and of that money, how much has then been paid to Government-selected sponsors.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for grants to small and medium sized enterprises are available only for 200304, when 81 per cent. of company grants were given to firms in that category. The following table extrapolates that percentage to cover earlier years, showing total company grants and (in brackets) grants to SMEs. We do not routinely collect information on the total amounts SMEs pay to Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) for the services they provide and this could only be established at disproportionate cost.
	
		 million
		
			  Total company grants Grants to SMEs 
		
		
			 19992000 14.2 (11.5) 
			 200001 16.8 (13.6) 
			 200102 16.6 (13.4) 
			 200203 18.2 (14.7) 
			 200304 16 (14.6)

Trade Shows

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of sponsors in helping UK firms co-ordinate trade shows abroad and their cost to (a) UK businesses and (b) UK public funds.

Mike O'Brien: Accredited Trade Organisations (formerly known as Sponsors) provide a range of services, including assessing companies' suitability for specific events, negotiating deals with exhibition organisers on stand space and construction, promoting the UK group at the event, troubleshooting on exhibitors' behalf and processing grant claims. On the costs of this to UK businesses I refer the hon. Member to the PQ No. 174707 answered today. In 200304 UK Trade  Investment gave grants totalling 2 million to Accredited Trade Organisations for organising UK groups at 438 exhibitions.

Wind Turbines

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many wind turbines in Wales have (a) been erected and (b) not been erected despite being given planning permission.

Stephen Timms: As far as we are aware, the total number of wind turbines within Wales and with UK grid connection is 394, 30 of these are offshore at North Hoyle.
	The total number of wind turbines to be erected for new projects within 2004, within Wales and with UK grid connection is 75.
	We have no records of the number of off-grid turbines, nor of wind turbines granted permission but not built.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Middle East

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Israel over the effect of Israeli military action on (a) homes, (b) water supply systems and (c) other infrastructure funded by his Department in the territories governed by the Palestinian Authority.

Bill Rammell: The Government are deeply concerned at recent Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah. We recognise Israel's need to defend itself within international law, but these actions constituted a form of collective punishment and were contrary both to international law and to Israel's commitments under the Roadmap. The UK made representations to the Israeli Embassy and Prime Minister Sharon's office in Tel Aviv.
	We have made clear our concerns to the Government of Israel about damage to water sources and the destruction of Palestinian agricultural land caused by Israeli actions. In April we made representations to the Israeli authorities about the destruction of a HMG funded latrine near Hebron. We will continue to do so when such incidents occur.

Middle East

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US on Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary speaks to his US counterpart frequently on a wide range of issues, including the Middle East Peace Process. It is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to make public the details of discussions with foreign Governments, under exemption 1 (b) of part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Middle East

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning current activity in the Gaza Strip.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials made representations to the Israeli Charge in London on 18 May and on 21 May and to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office in Tel Aviv on 18 May, about the impact of the Israel Defence Forces in operations in Rafah. In a press statement on 19 May, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary expressed his profound concern about the deaths of Palestinian civilians demonstrating against house demolitions. Israel must act within international law and refrain from using excessive force and taking actions which amount to collective punishment.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad's claim of having captured the Slafist Group for Preaching and Combat's second-in-command, Amari Saifi; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are unable to confirm the capture of Amari Saifi.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his counterpart in Chad, (b) other representatives of the Government of Chad and (c) United Kingdom representatives in Chad concerning the army mutiny of the night of 16th to 17th May; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Government has had no discussions with the Government of Chad about the incidents in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May. The UK is not represented in Chad; it is covered as necessary by our High Commission in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) national and (b) regional security impact of the army mutiny which took place in Chad on the night of 16 to 17May; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The facts and causes of the incident in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May remain unclear, and any assessment of the national and regional security impact would be speculative.

Chad

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment of the security impact of the army mutiny which took place in Chad on the night of 16 to 17 May he has received from the United Kingdom representatives in (a) Niger, (b) Nigeria, (c) Cameroon, (d) Central African Republic and (e) Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: UK representatives in Cameroon, where the UK's Ambassador to Chad resides, are monitoring the situation. The reasons for the incident in N'Djamena on 16, 17 and 18 May remain unclear. We have had no information from UK representatives in Nigeria and Sudan. The UK is not represented in Niger or the Central African Republic.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive a response to his letter of 29 March, reference 175680/04.

Jack Straw: holding answer of 20 May 2004
	I apologise to the hon. Member for the late reply to his letter. This was the result of an administrative error within the department. I will ensure he receives a reply without further delay.

Cuba

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's (a) policy on and (b) relationship with Cuba.

Bill Rammell: UK policy towards Cuba is one of constructive engagement and dialogue, as set out by the EU's Common Position on Cuba which was adopted in 1996. The Common Position states that, The main objective of the European Union in its relations with Cuba is to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people. We do not favour isolating Cuba, and have consistently voted against the US Embargo at the United Nations General Assembly.
	Following a crackdown on the peaceful opposition in March 2003, the EUin line with the Common Positioncondemned Cuba's actions and adopted a series of measures that reflected our human rights concerns. The Cuban response to these measures was to reject all EU development aid, and to freeze contact with EU Embassies in Havana. Nevertheless the UK continues to maintain close co-operation with Cuba in areas as diverse as child protection, migration and law enforcement, and encourages trade, tourism, education, sport, science and cultural links between the two countries. We remain committed to dialogue.

Darfur

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is in relation to the crisis in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We are seriously concerned about the crisis in Darfur. The humanitarian needs are enormous, and civilian protection is a priority. The UN have reported disturbing patterns of massive human rights violations which may constitute war crimes and/or crimes against humanity. While the UN's report makes no conclusion as to ethnic cleansing, it does note that attacks by Government forces and Janjaweed militia appear to have been largely ethnically based. We, and our EU partners, have made clear that alleged abuses should be thoroughly investigated.
	My right hon. Friends, the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for International Development, and I registered strongly our concerns with the Sudanese Foreign Minister when he visited London on 11 May. We are calling on the Government of Sudan and the Darfur groups to implement fully the 8 April ceasefire agreement. In particular the Sudanese Government must act now to rein in the Janjaweed, and all parties should co-operate to enable quick deployment of the African Union-led ceasefire monitoring mission. We expect deployment of this mechanism to have a positive effect on civilian protection, and are currently considering a possible UK contribution to it. We hope that a fully-monitored ceasefire and improved humanitarian access will provide a conducive atmosphere for inclusive political talks on the future of Darfur to begin as soon as possible.
	On 20 May the Sudanese Foreign Minister announced new measures governing the issue of visas and travel permits to humanitarian workers wishing to travel to Darfur. We hope that these measures will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to a population in great need. The Department for International Development have already committed over 16.5 million to UN agencies, the Red Cross and operational NGOs in response to the crisis, making the UK the second biggest bilateral donor in Darfur. We have also provided key personnel to support the UN co-ordination effort.

Eritrea

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Eritrean Government about the Christians imprisoned for their faith.

Chris Mullin: I raised this issue with President Isaias on 15 January. Our Embassy in Asmara raises it regularly with the Eritrean Government, most recently on 18 May.

Hutu Militia

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Rwanda in connection with the gangs of Hutu militia operating in the Congo.

Chris Mullin: The presence of armed Rwandan Hutu groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo, dating back to the Rwandan genocide of 1994, is one of the key barriers to lasting peace in the Great Lakes region because of the threat they pose to Rwandan stability.
	The UK has consistently pressed all parties in the region, including the Government of Rwanda, to co-operate on disarming these groups and resettling them back in Rwanda.

Iraq

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which private security companies the UK has contracts for services in Iraq; how much was paid to each in the financial year to 31 March; and what services they provide.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employs private security companies to protect British civilian staff working at the British Office Baghdad or seconded to the FCO to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority. ArmorGroup Services Ltd. provide static guards at an approxmate cost of l.1 million to 31 March 2004. Control Risks Group provide armed protection teams for mobile security at an approximate cost of 13.1 million to 31 March 2004.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the financial extent of the alleged corruption in the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: It is not possible to assess the financial extent of the alleged corruption in the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq, pending completion of the independent UN and Iraqi investigations.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for   Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what fee income   was earned by the UN Security Council for administering the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The United Nations Security Council earned no fee income from the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Administration of the OFF programme was undertaken by the UN Secretariat's Office of the Iraq Programme. UN administrative and operational charges amounted to 2.2 per cent. of the programme's costs.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the amount of money made by Saddam Hussein's regime as a result of the alleged corruption in the UN Oil for Food programme.

Bill Rammell: It is not possible to assess the financial extent of the alleged corruption in the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq, pending completion of the independent UN and Iraqi investigations.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which banks were used to administer the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The UN Treasury administered the banking arrangements of the Oil for Food programme. BNP Paribas was the only bank to issue letters of credit under the programme, and collateral to back those letters of credit was held by BNP Paribas. Funds that were not required to be used as collateral for letters of credit were invested with multiple banks based on competitive bidding.

Iraq

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Coalition Provisional Authority's response to the Iraqi Governing Council's request for an independent investigation into the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has authorised the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit (BSA) to pursue an independent investigation of the Oil for Food programme in Iraq. We welcome this investigation. Following an open tender process, Ernst  Young has won the contract to carry out the investigation on behalf of the BSA. We understand that the CPA will also co-operate fully with the UN's independent inquiry to ensure that investigators have access to the relevant information in Iraq.

Kenya

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers of the present government have visited Kenya in an official capacity.

Chris Mullin: Since the election of President Mwai Kibaki and the National Rainbow Coalition party in December 2002, the following Ministers have made official visits to Kenya:
	Right hon. Clare Short, then Secretary of State for International Development, January 2003:
	Right. hon. Baroness Amos, then FCO Minister of State, January 2003
	Right. hon. Baroness Amos, then Secretary of State for International Development, July 2003
	Hon. Elliott Morley, Minister of State for the Environment and Agri-Environment, September 2003.
	I made a four day-long visit to Kenya at the end of October 2003.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what travel advice his Department is issuing to NGOs and humanitarian organisations about the safety of travel to (a) Gmice and (b) elsewhere in the region of Kamenia in Kosovo.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice for Kosovo, which applies to the entire province and is targeted at all British citizens, reads as follows:
	Because of continuing tensions, you should avoid non-essential (including holiday) travel to Kosovo and travel within the Presevo and Bujanovac districts of Southern Serbia.
	Full travel advice can be found at www.fco.gov.uk and is updated regularly.

Kosovo

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation (a) in Gmice and (b) elsewhere in the region of Kamenia in Kosovo; which cultural or ethnic group dominates the area; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: According to the information we have received the overall security situation in Gmice and the municipality of Kamenica is currently stable.
	The municipality of Kamencia is predominantly Albanian with several Serb villages.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) efficiency of the UN disarmament programme in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We welcome the steps taken by the United Nations Mission in Liberia to restart the Disarmament, Demobilisation. Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) programme in April, and the improved arrangements put in place following the problems that arose in December. 16,981 ex-combatants have been disarmed since the restart of the programme.
	It was agreed, at the International Contact Group on Liberia meeting in London on 11 May, that there needed to be increased focus on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration aspects of DDRR and that there should be continuity in the process. We are concerned at the disturbances of 17 May. It is the responsibility of the factions represented in the National Transitional Government of Liberia to ensure there is full co-operation with the DDRR process.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions the UK Government has (a) pledged and (b) delivered to the UN disarmament programme in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The UK has pledged a total of 6 million to the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) process, 4 million in 200405 and 2 million in 200506. So far l million has been transferred to the UN DDRR fund. We plan soon to decide how we commit the balance of funds for this financial year.

Liberia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) he and (b) members of his Department last met the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Liberia to discuss (i) the UN disarmament programme in Liberia and (ii) the security situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: I attended the International Contact Group on Liberia meeting in London on 11 May, which was also attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Jaques Klein. SRSG Klein and I discussed a range of issues including the security situation and the disarmament programme.

Nigeria

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nigerian Government to curb the sectarian violence in (a) the city of Kano, (b) the town of Yelwa and (c) the state of Taraba; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The British High Commission, together with the EU, has urged all parties to the disputes to exercise restraint, and has urged the Nigerian Government to exercise full respect for human rights and the rule of law in restoring order. The British High Commissioner travelled to Kano and his staff went to Plateau State to see the situation at first hand to make these points. We have offered humanitarian support to the relevant authorities.

Nigeria

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of people killed in Nigeria as a result of (a) political, (b) religious and (c) ethnic violence in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The Nigerian Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution estimates that the total number of deaths from political, ethnic and religious violence between 19992003 is not less than 10,000.
	We have expressed concern at the recent conflict in Plateau State in our public statement of 7 May, a copy of which together with the EU's statement on violence in Kano of 13 May, has been placed in the Library of the House. The British High Commission in Nigeria is in close touch with Federal and State authorities to press for a peaceful resolution to existing conflicts and longer-term reconciliation.

Organisation of American States

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) environmental and (b) economic impact of the proposed free trade pact between the United States of America and Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, to be signed at the Organisation of American States in Washington DC on 28 May; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: No assessment has been made of the impact of this third-party agreement.

Sri Lanka

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas of Sri Lanka (a) the British High Commissioner and (b) a member of his staff has visited during the last 12 months; and what action has been taken by his Department following receipt of the reports made by him or his staff.

Mike O'Brien: The British High Commissioner has visited the districts of Kilinochchi, Kandy and the Vanni during the past 12 months. Members of the British High Commission have visited the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kegalle, Moneragala, Kandy, Trincomalee, Batticoloa, Ampara, Ratnapura, Kilinochchi, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa. Jaffna. Sigiriya, Puttalam, Dambulla, Moratuwa, Hambantota, Galle, Matara and Diyatalawa. Their reports have been used to inform policy.

Sri Lanka

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with   the Government of Sri Lanka human rights issues   within that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss human rights issues with the new Sri Lankan Government. However I discussed the peace process, including the need to strengthen it with a credible and effective human rights enforcement machinery, last September with GL Peiris, then Minister for Constitutional Affairs, and government spokesman on the peace process. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo, including the High Commissioner, raise this issue with the Sri Lankan authorities on a regular basis.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Libya has played in the situation in Darfur, Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We have no evidence of Libyan involvement in the situation in Darfur.

Tibet

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on (a) Tibetan autonomy, (b) the level of recognition of Chinese suzerainty over Tibet and (c) the Tibetan people's right to independence.

Bill Rammell: Successive British Governments have regarded Tibet as autonomous while recognising the special position of the Chinese authorities there. This remains our position.

Turkey (EU Accession)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the requirements placed upon Turkey for accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement on progress being made by Turkey in that regard.

Denis MacShane: The requirements for Turkey's accession to the EU are set out in the Copenhagen criteria of 1993, and are the same as apply to all EU Candidates. To this end, the European Council decided in December 2002 that: If the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.
	We welcome the adoption by Turkey of wide-ranging constitutional and legislative reforms to meet the Copenhagen political criteria. Seven Packages of Legislative Reform have been passed since 2002, overhauling Turkey's government, penal and legal system, andin an iterative process with the EU (most recently at the 18 May Association Council)ensuring that Turkey's domestic reforms converge with EU norms. Eleven constitutional amendments are currently being finalised. These include abolition of the death penalty in all situations, abolition of State Security Courts, and establishment of supremacy of international law over domestic law.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stressed the importance of effective implementation of reforms at the first UK/Turkey Summit on 17 May in Ankara, underlining the UK's strong support for Turkey's EU candidature and our determination to help Turkey comply with the Copenhagen political criteria in advance of December's European Council decision.

Visas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visas have been refused at British High Commission offices in (a) Pakistan, (b) Sri Lanka and (c) India during the last 12 months.

Chris Mullin: The UK visas Central Reference System reports the following statistics for visa applications between 1 May 2003 and 30 April 2004.
	
		
			  Received Issued Refused Other(28) Refused (percentage) 
		
		
			 Pakistan 131,987 97,132 25,725 9,130 19.5 
			 Sri Lanka 30,453 21,032 8,518 903 28.0 
			 India 315,439 246,713 58,479 10,247 18.5 
		
	
	(28)   Other includes withdrawn, lapsed and pending applications

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Answers (Envelopes)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make it his policy to stop the practice of despatching one page parliamentary answers to hon. Members in large heavy-duty envelopes.

Archy Kirkwood: During the present Parliament I have answered 244 parliamentary questions, 24 of which were tabled by my hon. Friend. A copy of each answer is sent to the Member who tabled the question in an A4 brown manila envelope (Banner product 9015043). This envelope is 100 per cent. recyclable paper and is made from 80100 per cent. recycled stock, with at least 6085 per cent. being post-consumer waste. On one occasion, due to a lack of stock, a different A4 manila envelope (Banner product 9015033), which is made to the same standards, was used to circulate an answer.
	I have given instructions that answers should in future be sent in white wallet envelopes (Banner product 9000015), which are 100 per cent. recycled.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Age-Related Payments Bill

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Elmet constituency receive 100 help towards the payment of council tax.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available. The latest available data shows 8,270 households in the parliamentary constituency of Elmet with at least one resident aged 70 or over. We therefore expect a similar number to benefit from the one-off 70 plus payment announced by the Chancellor in his recent Budget.
	The intention is for the payments to be made automatically with the 200405 Winter Fuel Payment, to those who are eligible and who do not need to claim it, before the end of the year. People who do not get a Winter Fuel Payment will need to claim the one-off payment from the Department for Work and Pensions before 31 March 2005.
	Notes:
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Any residence found to have four or more occupants is not included in these figures as it is assumed to be a Residential Care Nursing Home.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample of Winter Fuel Payments data for Winter 200304.

Age-Related Payments Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office in relation to the extension of the Age-Related Payments Bill to Northern Ireland.

Malcolm Wicks: Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions are working closely with officials in the Department for Social Development. The intention is to provide for age-related payments in Northern Ireland by Order in Council.

Pension Credit

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Elmet constituency (a) have claimed the minimum income guarantee and (b) are claiming pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information available is given in the following table. The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) was replaced by Pension Credit on 6 October 2003. Those who were receiving MIG immediately prior to that date were transferred automatically to Pension Credit.
	
		Minimum Income Guarantee and Pension Credit recipients, Elmet, October 2003 and April 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Minimum Income Guarantee (3 October 2003)  
			 Households 2,330 
			 Individuals 2,645 
			 Pension Credit (30 April 2004)  
			 Households 3,255 
			 Individuals 3,865 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures for individuals include a small number of partners under age 60

Pension Credit

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) London and (b) Brent have claimed pension credit since it was introduced; and how many people in (i) London and (ii) Brent are entitled to claim pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: At 30 April 2004 there were (a) 260,510 households (309,275 individuals) in London and (b) 10,565 households (12,775 individuals) in Brent receiving Pension Credit. Information on the number of. people who are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual local authority areas. However, we estimate that approximately 450,000 pensioner households in the London region are eligible for Pension Credit. This estimate is based on data from the Family Resources Survey for 200102. A revised estimate, based on data from the Family Resources Survey for 200203, will be available later this month.
	Notes:
	1.   Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2.   Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60.

Pension Credit

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of pension credit are receiving (a) less than 10p per week, (b) 10p to 19p per week, (c) 20p to 29p per week, (d) 30p to 39p per week, (e) 40p to 49p per week, (f) 50p to 59p per week, (g) 60p to 69p per week, (h) 70p to 79p per week, (i) 80p to 89p per week and (j) 90p to 99p per week in each Greater London borough.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures in question for individual London boroughs are too small to be reliable. The information for inner and outer London areas is in the table. An award of pension credit of less than 10p per week is not payable unless the person is receiving another benefit payable with pension credit.
	
		Pension credit awards of less than 1, London Government Office Region (GOR), 30April 2004
		
			  Less than 10p 10p to 19p 20p to 29p 30p to 39p 40p to 49p 50p to 59p 60p to 69p 70p to 79p 80p to 89p 90p to 99p Total 
		
		
			 London GOR 60 85 85 75 100 115 90 105 120 125 960 
			 Inner London-West 5 15 5 5 15 15 10 10 10 15 105 
			 Inner London-East 10 15 20 15 30 30 25 30 25 30 230 
			 Outer London-East and North East 15 20 35 25 30 20 20 25 40 30 260 
			 Outer London-South 15 20 15 15 10 25 20 20 25 25 190 
			 Outer London-West and North West 15 15 15 15 20 25 20 25 20 25 195 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Columns might not sum correctly due to rounding.

Enhanced New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have entered the Enhanced New Deal 25 plus (a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times and (d) four or more times; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 May 2004
	The information requested is in the table:
	
		People Entering Enhanced New Deal 25 plus(29)
		
			 Number of starts on the programme Number of people 
		
		
			 1 157,110 
			 2 35,150 
			 3 18,170 
			 4(29) Or more 7,820 
		
	
	(29) Or more
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database
	Through a combination of economic stability and radical labour market reforms, more than 1.9 million more people are in work now than in 1997 and unemployment at its lowest level for nearly 30 years.
	Active labour market policies ensure people can take advantage of the many job opportunities coming up all the time. With UK unemployment the lowest for a generation, partly due to programmes like New Deal, the Government is extending help and support to other jobless people, especially lone parents and those with disabilities.
	Claimant long term (one year plus) unemployment has been virtually eradicated for young people and has fallen by three-quarters for all adults since 1997. New Deal 25 plus has played an important role in this success, so far helping more than 173,000 people into work.
	Notes:
	1: Data relates to start of ND25 plus Enhanced Programme in April 2001 to December 2003

Incapacity Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were receiving incapacity benefit in each of the last 25 years, broken down by constituency within each region.

Maria Eagle: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Income Statistics

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the trend in (a) average and (b) pensioner incomes as compared with (i) average and (ii) medium earnings, over the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Such information as is available is in the following table.
	Percentage growth in net equivalised income, both before housing costs have been taken into account (BHC) and after housing costs have been taken into account (AHC):
	
		
			 Change between 19941995 and 20022003 Percentage 
		
		
			 Whole population income BHC 24 
			 Whole population income AHC 31 
			 Pensioner income BHC 22 
			 Pensioner income AHC 30 
		
	
	Pensioners' average income has increased at a rate similar to that of the population as a whole since 199495.
	The figures in the table allow a valid comparison between pensioners and the population as a whole. They relate to household disposable income and cannot be compared directly with average earnings. A closer comparison is given by the mean net Before Housing Costs income received by pensioner units in their own right, which increased by 25 per cent. between 199495 and 200203. Over the same period, average earnings have seen a growth of 13 per cent.
	Notes:
	(a) The income growth figures in the table are estimates taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. Data is derived from the Family Resources Survey. The latest date for which data is available is 200203. The earliest date for which data is available from the Family Resources Survey is 199495. For this reason, it has only been possible to present nine years' worth of data.
	(b) The income measure used is mean weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income, consistent with HBAI conventions: income is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household, and is net of income tax, National Insurance contributions and Council Tax. Figures are quoted on both a Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs basis, in line with HBAI conventions.
	(c) Income figures in the table show growth in real terms, deflating by the Retail Prices Index all items excluding Council tax. The earnings figure shows growth in real terms, deflating by the Retail Prices Index all items (RPI) series.
	(d) The source for earnings values is the Average Earnings Index, which is based on information obtained from the Office for National Statistics' Monthly Wages and Salary Survey. Average earnings are obtained by dividing the total amount paid by the total number of employees paid, including those employees on strike and temporarily absent. This information is then weighted and formed into an index.
	(e) Part (ii) of the question has been interpreted as asking for median earnings, which is a figure that is not available from the Average Earnings Index.
	(f) Both the Family Resources Survey and the Average Earnings Index cover Great Britain.

Job Seekers

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether clients using Jobseeker Direct services when seeking job-broking advice and assistance by telephone will have access to Language Line if they do not speak English well; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Andrew Dismore dated 25 May 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question, concerning clients of Jobseeker Direct having access to the telephone interpreter services provided by Language Line. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated tome as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	All customers who call Jobseeker Direct or any of our contact centres, and do not speak English, have unrestricted access to the telephone interpreter services provided by Language Line. In addition, Welsh language callers have a specific number to dial and they currently receive a full Welsh language Jobseeker Direct service.
	I hope this reply to your question is helpful.

Lung Diseases

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were diagnosed to be suffering from (a) asbestosis and (b) mesothelioma in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) age.

Jane Kennedy: Cases of asbestosis identified through the Department for Work and Pensions Industrial Injuries and Disablement Benefit Scheme provide the best indication of the number of asbestosis diagnoses. Provisional figures for Great Britain in 2003 are shown by sex and age group in Table 1.
	
		Table 1: Cases of asbestosis identified thought the industrial Injuries and disablement benefit scheme in Great Britain in 2003 by sex and age group(30)
		
			  Age group 
			 Sex 044 4554 5564 6574 75+ Total 
		
		
			 Males  20 150 260 210 635 
			 Females   5 5 5 15 
			 Total  20 155 265 215 650 
		
	
	(30) Provisional figures.
	Reliable figures for the number of diagnoses of mesothelioma are not available. The disease is rapidly fatal in nearly all cases, and a good indication of the number of diagnoses is given by the annual number of deaths. Numbers of deaths in Great Britain in 2001 (the latest year for which figures are available) are given in table 2.
	
		Table 2: Mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain in 2001 by sex and age group
		
			  Age group 
			 Sex 044 4554 5564 6574 75+ Total 
		
		
			 Males 9 100 365 535 570 1,579 
			 Females 5 20 54 70 120 269 
			 Total 14 120 419 605 690 1,848

Lung Diseases

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) teachers and (b) office workers were diagnosed to be suffering from (a) asbestosis and (b) mesothelioma in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Substantial exposures to asbestos are required in order for asbestosis to be clinically manifested within the lifetime of an individual. Teachers and office workers are very unlikely to have had such exposures during the course of their work. In 2003, 10 cases of asbestosis were identified by the Department for Work and Pensions Industrial Injuries and Disablement Benefit Scheme among occupational groups most likely to be predominantly office based. The coding of occupations is not of sufficient detail to specifically identify teachers from this data source.
	Reliable figures for the number of diagnoses of mesothelioma are not available. The disease is rapidly fatal in nearly all cases, and a good indication of the number of diagnoses is given by the annual number of deaths. In 2001 (the latest year for which figures are available) there were 14 mesothelioma deaths among teachers and 24 among office workers. However, death certificates record only the last occupation of the deceased. The typically long time between asbestos exposure and the onset of mesothelioma means that the occupation recorded may not be the one in which exposure took place.

Lung Diseases

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what forecast his Department has made for the diagnosis of cases of (a) asbestosis and (b) mesothelioma cases in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2015; and when they are expected to peak.

Jane Kennedy: Cases of asbestosis identified through the Department for Work and Pensions Industrial Injuries and Disablement Benefit Scheme provide the best indication of the number of asbestosis diagnoses. The number of cases in the year 2010 and 2015 is projected to be less than 1,000 in each year. No estimate of the peak number of cases is available.
	Reliable figures for the number of diagnoses of mesothelioma are not available. The disease is rapidly fatal in nearly all cases, and a good indication of the number of diagnoses is given by the annual number of deaths. The number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain is forecast to be between 1,950 and 2,025 in the year 2010 and to be between 1,900 and 2,450 in the year 2015. The annual total number of mesothelioma deaths is expected to peak at around 1,950 to 2,450 deaths some time between the years 2011 and 2015.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of each stage of (a) the New Deal for Young People and (b) the New Deal 25 plus using the unit cost model operational from April; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 May 2004
	The information requested is not available.
	A unit cost system has been in place from April 2004. This records information on staffing costs across a broad range of activities, including New Deal administrative costs at a summary level. However, this system does not capture the information requested.
	A more sophisticated model will be developed as part of the Department's Resource Management System. The Resource Management System project is currently moving into the design and development stage and will be looking at addressing this requirement.

Online Pension Forecasts

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the online national insurance retirement pension forecast to be available.

Malcolm Wicks: It is intended to make the service available in a controlled go-live environment, following six months of intensive testing, in the fourth calendar quarter of 2004, initially to DWP staff. This will allow DWP to study the impact of the registration and enrolment function of the Government Gateway, which is a pre-requisite of using the service. Previous e-services have made this requirement optional. Access to citizens will be made available one month later incorporating the lessons learned.
	The service will be called the State Pension Forecast e-Service and will be primarily accessed via the Pensions Service Web site, but will have links from all DWP websites and the Government Gateway site.

Pension Centre Offices

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals he has for the future of pension centre offices; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the future of Burnley Pension Centre.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answers 18 May 2004 and 20 May 2004
	The Pension Service structure, including pension centres, is being reviewed as part of a programme of efficiency measures. The next stage of planning is currently being developed and more information will be available within one month.
	The programme will allow us to complete the task we set out to achieve when we introduced The Pension Service and to meet the DWP budget challenge. It also supports our commitment to meeting targets and continuing to introduce new and better ways of working, supported by improved technology and smarter processes.
	This will enable us to deliver some very real improvements in our service to customers and in job satisfaction for our people.

Pension Income (Over-50s)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people between the age of 50 and state pension age live inhouseholds without an occupational pension income; what proportion of these are in each decile of overall income distribution; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There were 6.8 million people between the age of 50 and state pension age who lived in households without an occupational pension income in the financial year 200203. This equated to 73 per cent. of all individuals in this age group.
	The proportion of this group located in each decile of the equivalised income distribution, both before and after housing costs have been taken into account, is presented in the table.
	
		
			  Income before housing costs Income after housing costs 
		
		
			 Decile 1 11 11 
			 Decile 2 7 8 
			 Decile 3 8 7 
			 Decile 4 8 9 
			 Decile 5 9 8 
			 Decile 6 10 10 
			 Decile 7 11 10 
			 Decile 8 11 12 
			 Decile 9 12 12 
			 Decile 10 13 14 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for the financial year 200203, the latest date for which data are available.
	2. Estimates are for Great Britain.
	3. Estimates relate to the status of individuals at the time they were interviewed for the FRS.
	4. The estimates are based on sample counts, which have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that control for tenure, council tax band and a number of other variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error, and to remaining variability in non-response which is not corrected by the grossing regime.
	5. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income (that is to say income that is adjusted to reflect the composition of the household).
	6. The Households Below Average Income series presents analysis of income of two bases: Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC). This is principally to take into account variations in housing costs that themselves do not correspond to comparable variations in the quality of housing.
	7. Occupational incomes include income from the following: pension from a previous employer, widow's employee pension and trade union or friendly society pension.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey (FRS).

Pensioner Benefits

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated total income for pensioners from (a) benefits and (b) private sources is since 1992; and what this figure is as a percentage.

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the proportion of pensioners' income coming from (a) state and (b) private sources.

Malcolm Wicks: There is no single data source which covers pensioners' benefit and private incomes between 1992 and the present. The information provided is based on Family Expenditure Survey data between 1992 and 199697 and Family Resources Survey data between 199495 and 200203. Direct comparisons between information from the two surveys should not be made.
	The table shows the average weekly income for pensioner units (pensioner couples and single pensioners) in 200203 prices and rounded to the nearest pound. Private sources of income include private pension income, investments, earnings and other types of income.
	Both benefit income and private income have increased significantly between 199697 and 200203, with gross income rising by 20 per cent. in real terms.
	
		
			   Benefit income Private income 
			  Gross income  per week Percentage of total  per week Percentage of total 
		
		
			 Family Expenditure Survey data  
			 1992 213 107 50 106 50 
			 1993 212 113 53 99 47 
			 199495 226 118 52 109 48 
			 199596 232 117 51 115 49 
			 199697 230 122 53 108 47 
			   
			 Family Resources Survey data  
			 199495 220 117 53 103 47 
			 199596 216 118 55 98 45 
			 199697 230 121 53 108 47 
			 199798 234 123 52 111 48 
			 199899 243 124 51 118 49 
			 19992000 252 130 52 121 48 
			 200001 265 133 50 132 50 
			 200102 273 138 51 133 49 
			 200203 277 142 51 134 48 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Private and benefit income may not sum to total gross income due to rounding, and because free TV licences for over 75s are included in total income but not in either benefit or private income.
	2. Percentages are calculated from unrounded cash figures.
	3. Analysis consistent with Pensioners' Incomes 200203.
	4. Family Expenditure Survey Figures are for the UK, Family Resources Survey Figures are for Great Britain.

Pensioner Income

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pensioner income was for the financial years (a) 200203 and (b) 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on pensioners' incomes is available from the Family Resources Survey for 20023. Figures for 20034 are not yet available.
	Information on mean and median net income before housing costs for pensioner couples and single pensioners is in the table.
	
		
			  Mean net income Median net income 
		
		
			 Pensioner couples 327 262 
			 Single pensioners 177 153 
		
	
	Source:
	Pensioners' Incomes 20023
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for Great Britain
	2. Figures are weekly income in 20023 prices
	3. Net income is net of income tax and National Insurance Contributions and, local taxes.

Post Office Cards

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why post office cards have been issued which are then replaced by new cards with identification strips; and how much it is estimated to have cost to issue the first set of cards.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 24 May 2004
	The operation of the Post Office card account is a commercial and operational matter for Post Office Ltd and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Project Funding

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) solely state-financed and (b) public-private partnership and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible have been launched in each region in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much was spent by (a) the Government on solely state-financed projects and (b) the (i) Government and (ii) private sector on public-private and private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Maria Eagle: The Department and its predecessor organisations, the former Department of Social Security and the Employment Service, launched no solely state-financed capital investment projects in the period 1993 to 2003.
	The Department and its predecessors initiated a very large number of projects between 1993 and 2003. In the main these were funded from running costs but many also have an element of capital spending. Available information on private sector capital investment in public-private partnership (PPP) and private finance initiative (PFI) projects launched during the period is in the tables. Information on the Department's capital spend by project is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All DWP PPP and PFI projects are national projects so regional information is not available.
	
		
			 Project title Year launched Total Capital Value ( million) Capital Spend 199899 ( million) Capital Spend 19992000 ( million) Capital Spend 200001 ( million) Capital Spend 200102 ( million) Capital Spend 200203 ( million) Capital Spend 200340 ( million) 
		
		
			 No projects 1994 to 1996 
			 ESCOM 1997 4 1 1 1 1   
			 PRIME 1997 959 69 26 32 15 66 9 
			 PRIME EXPANSION 2003   10 
			 EDS/IT Partnership   Agreement 1998 217 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 HR Partnership 1999 6  n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Child Support Reforms 2000 3   n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Strategic Outsourcing 2000 33   n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Network and Office   Services 2000 9   n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 New Tax Credits 2002 11 n/a n/a 
			 Pensions Forecasting   System 2002 0 n/a n/a 
			 Advanced Telephony 2003 10  0 
		
	
	
		
			   Project title  Year launched Capital Spend 200405 ( million) Capital Spend 200506 ( million) Capital Spend 200607 ( million)   Is project operational   Details 
		
		
			 ESCOM 1997Operational Contract ended 31 March 2002 Computerised replacement for Employment Service paper based system, awarded to Siemens Business Services 
			
			 PRIME 1997 13 18 101/21/21/21/21/21/21/21/2Operational-Period Contract commenced 1 April 1998, ends 2018 Transfer of the ownership and management of buildings on the former DSS part of estates, and all associated risk, to the private sector. Under a 20 yr contract, Land Securities Trillium now provides DWP with fully serviced office accommodation 
			 PRIME EXPANSION 2003 25 22 20  
			
			 EDS/IT Partnership Agreement 1998 n/a n/a n/a Operational-Period of contract 1 August 1998 to 31 July 2008 Provision of IT and telephony services to the Employment Service 
			
			 HR Partnership 1999 n/a   Operational- Contract commenced 1 April 1999. Due to terminate on 31 March 2005 Integrated Employment Service payroll and Human Resources service awarded to Rebus HR Services and Norwich Systems Accounting 
			
			 Child Support Reforms 2000 n/a n/a n/a Operational- Contract ends 2010 Awarded under the DSS ACCORD framework for IS and IT services 
			
			 Strategic Outsourcing 2000 n/a n/a n/a Operational-Period of contract 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2010 ITSA Outsourcing. Awarded under the DSS ACCORD framework for IS and IT services 
			
			 Network and Office Services 2000 n/a n/a n/a Operational-Period of contract 1 June 2001 to 31 May 2006 Networks and Office Services Project (WAN). Awarded under the DSS ACCORD framework for IS and IT services 
			
			 New Tax Credits 2002 n/a n/a n/a June 2002 to August2010 DWP NTC project awarded to Affinity (EDS) 
			
			 Pensions Forecasting System 2002 0 0 0 June 2002 to December 2006 DWP PFS awarded to Affinity (EDS) 
			
			 Advanced Telephony 2003 3.4 3.5 3.5 March 2003 to March 2008 DWP Advanced Telephony Business Allocation (ATBA) with BT, signed 31 March 2003 to provide 5-year PFI route for Contact Centre Telephony. This is part on and part off balance sheet. 
		
	
	n/a = indicates that a year on year breakdown of expenditure is not available.
	Notes:
	1. In addition to the above projects there are 3 PPPs, with Affinity (EDS), Arcway (BT) and Working Links, which are strategic partnerships and as such have not in themselves involved capital investment. Any such investment is covered by the specific PFI deals set out above.
	2. The PRIME capital spend by year figures do not total the total capital value of the project because the table does not cover the full 20 year period of the contract.

State Pension

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to have prepared estimates for the number of people contracted out of second tier state pension provision in (a) 200102, (b) 200203 and (c) 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: We hope to publish estimates of the number of people contracted out of the State Second Pension in the 200102 and 200203 tax years by the end of 2004. Estimates of the number of people contracted out in the 200304 tax year are expected to be published at the end of 2005.

State Pension Statements

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list each item of information which may be contained in a state pension statement.

Malcolm Wicks: State pension forecasts may contain the total weekly state pension earned to date and forecasted to state pension age based on today's rates. The total figure has a breakdown of the basic state pension, including the number of qualifying years, the percentage and amount of basic state pension.
	Where appropriate, the total figure will provide a breakdown of any additional state pension due, less any contracted-out deduction.
	The forecast may also show:
	the date of birth used to calculate the forecast;
	current employment status advised by the customer;
	the customer's national insurance contribution status;
	whether the customer is paying into another pension scheme.
	Where appropriate, the forecast will also provide the following:
	the number of years for which Home Responsibility Protection has been awarded;
	the date of divorce or widowhood.
	Where a former or late spouse's national insurance contribution has been used in the forecast calculation, the letter sent with the forecast explains the conditions attached.
	Additionally, where appropriate, the customer is advised of deficiencies in their national insurance contributions in the preceding six years and how payments of these may increase their state pension entitlement.

Winter Fuel Payments

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire of 30 April 2004, Official Report, columns 137071W, on winter fuel payments disallowed because of late application, if he will update the table to include late claim disallowances made in respect of winter 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures for previous years given in the table have not changed. So far for this winter 200304 we have received 646 claims for a Winter Fuel Payment after the deadline for claiming of 30th March 2004.

Winter Fuel Payments

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments were disallowed because of late application in (a) 200102 and (b) 200203 in each Greater London borough.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not available as figures are not kept for individual constituencies or boroughs. Overall figures of late claim disallowances for Winter Fuel Payments in Great Britain are in the following table.
	
		
			  Late Claim Disallowances Made 
		
		
			 20012002 10,308 in respect of winter 20002001 
			   
			 20022003 1,745 in respect of winter 20002001 
			  4,564 in respect of winter 20012002 
			   
			 20032004 1,760 in respect of winter 20002001 
			  2,204 in respect of winter 20012002 
			  3,948 in respect of winter 20022003

Winter Fuel Payments

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the deadlines for applications for winter fuel payments were in (a) 200102 and (b) 200203.

Malcolm Wicks: The majority of payments were made automatically without the need to claim. The deadlines for Winter Fuel Payment applications to be received by the Department for winters 200102 and 200203 were 30 March 2002 and the 30 March 2003 respectively where claims were required.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants for winter fuel payments in Scotland were disallowed because of late application in (a) 200102, (b) 200203 and (c) 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available.
	Data about where unsuccessful claimants lived at the time has not been retained.

HEALTH

Additives

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average (a) daily and (b) annual per capita consumption of cyclamates in each year since 1989;
	(2)  what research was conducted into the safety of (a) aspartame, (b) monosodium glutamate and (c) cyclamates prior to their introduction onto the British market.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 24 May 2004
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that surveys of additive intake are not conducted on an annual basis, however the following intake data for cyclamate are available from studies conducted in 1999 and 2003.
	The mean intake of cyclamate by United Kingdom consumers was assessed in 1999 and 2003 to be:
	
		Milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day
		
			  Adult Children 
		
		
			 1999 0.77 8.16 
			 2003  4.46 
		
	
	The safety of aspartame, monosodium glutamate and cyclamate was assessed by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) prior to their introduction onto the European Market. Details of the research conducted into their safety are contained in the SCF reports which are available at:
	Aspartame http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out155   en.pdf
	Monosodium glutamate http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/reports/scf   reports   25.pdf
	Cyclamate http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/scf/out53   en.pdf

Air Weapons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the number of patients treated each year in the NHS for injuries involving air weapons;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the (a) age profile of patients treated in hospital for injuries resulting from air guns, (b) type of injuries suffered and (c) the times of year when these injuries are most frequently suffered.

Melanie Johnson: It would be disproportionately costly to collect statistics on national health service patients treated for injuries specifically involving air weapons and the Department has no plans to do so.

Capital Funds

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much of the 145 million in 200405 of capital funds received for other uses is set aside to cover the borrowing freedoms of foundation trusts;
	(2)  for what further purposes he has set aside capital funds in 200405 which are not allocated direct to NHS organisations.

John Hutton: The table is an extract from figure 4.2 of the Department of Health Departmental Report 2004. This shows the opening disposition of 200405 hospital and community health services capital for allocation to the national health service.
	The 82 million for central budgets is for various arms length bodies. The 145 million within programme central budgets for other investments includes up to 104 million for estimated capital spending by national health service foundation trusts. The balance of 41 million is part of an opening unallocated provision set aside to cover in-year pressures and risks on the capital programme overall.
	The overall capital spending by NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts is financed through a mixture of income generated internally, mainly depreciation, plus borrowing. It is not therefore possible to determine what borrowing will be required against one element of their total capital spending.
	
		Disposition of 200405 Hospital and Community Health Services Capital ResourcesExtract from Figure 4.2 of the Department of Health Departmental Report 2004
		
			million 
		
		
			 HCHS capital available for allocation to NHS trusts and PCTs  3,331 
			
			 To be allocated as follows:   
			 Central budgets  82 
			
			 Direct allocations to strategic health authorities, NHS trusts and primary care trusts   
			 SHA strategic capital 763  
			 Trust and PCT operational capital 928  
			 Access fund 100  
			 Total direct allocations for local prioritisation  1,791 
			
			 Programme capital budgets   
			 Delivery of ICT strategy 700  
			 Junior doctors' working hours 2  
			 SIFTMedical and dental undergraduate support 35  
			 Improving the provision of decontamination services in the NHS 13  
			 Modernising the hospital manufacture of medicines 24  
			 Nursing home care strategy 16  
			 Walk-in centres 10  
			 Primary care facilitiesincluding NHS LIFT 110  
			 Audiology 32  
			 Dangerous severe personality disorder (DSPD) 20  
			 Other mental health, including TILT security, CAHMS, long-term low secure and womens 40  
			 Renal 9  
			 Diabetes 10  
			 Coronary heart disease 140  
			 Cancer equipment 95  
			 Expanding genetics 9  
			 Dental modernisation fund 20  
			 Pathology modernisation 8  
			 PFI batching 20  
			 Other investments 145  
			 Total to NHS trusts/health authorities/primary care trusts  1,458

Children's Hospital (Manchester)

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the completion date of the new children's hospital in Manchester.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 24 May 2004
	It is estimated that the new children's hospital in Manchester will be completed in April 2009.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the hon. Member for Southend West's letters of 26 March and 19 April regarding the Human Tissue Bill.

Rosie Winterton: A reply was sent to the hon. Member for Southend West on 17 May 2004.

Cross-border Hospital Treatments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) English residents were referred for treatment in Welsh hospitals and (b) Welsh residents were referred for treatment in English hospitals in each year since 1999.

John Hutton: Data are not collected centrally for English residents referred for treatment in Welsh hospitals. Available data on Welsh residents referred for treatment in hospitals in England are shown in the table.
	
		Welsh residents in England, count of in-year admission episodes NHS hospitals, England, 19992000 to 200203
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 19992000 41,508 
			 200001 41,273 
			 200102 40,626 
			 200203 39,175 
		
	
	Notes:
	Data was derived by selecting cases where the strategic health authority (SHA) of residence was given as Wales (that is a Welsh postcode).
	In-year admissions
	An in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data year.
	Periods of care on-going at the end of the data year (unfinished admission episodes) are included. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Grossing
	Figures are grossed for coverage, except for 200102 and 200203, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Strategic Health Authority Data Quality
	These figures have been derived from the SHA of residence of the patient, which itself is derived from the postcode of the patient. SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 200203 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. There is some change in completeness of residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis need to be aware of this issue in their interpretation of the data.
	Data Quality
	HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Department of Health liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Departmental Staff (Drugs)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many shared care schemes for drug misuse include workplace occupational health specialists.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of shared care schemes for drug misuse including occupational health specialists is not available.

Dermatology

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received reports of regional variations in the incidence of skin cancer in England.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Keith Bradley dated 25 May 2004
	.
	Information on newly diagnosed cases of cancer is collected by nine regional cancer registries in England, and a standard data set based on registrations for residents of their areas is submitted to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Regional data on the incidence of skin and other cancers is published annually by ONS in the Cancer Statistics Registrations series (MB.l). The most recent data available are for the year 2000. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library and on the National Statistics website at: http://wvw.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk =8843Pos=Co!Rank=lRank=240

Elective Admissions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's oral statement of 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 332, on the Financial Statement, how many elective admissions there were for (a) MRI scans and (b) CT scans in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Data outlining how many elective admissions there were for (a) magnetic resonance imaging scans and (b) computer tomography scans are not collected centrally.
	However, a count of imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations or tests by imaging modality is collected on the Department's KH1 2 return. Data on MRI and CT scans is shown in the table.
	
		Total number of imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations or tests, CT and MRI, England, 199596 to 200203
		
			  (31)CT (32)MRI 
		
		
			 199596 1,709,244 347,817 
			 199697 1,056,365 394,940 
			 199798 1,172,656 473,074 
			 199899 1,254,474 522,138 
			 199900 1,359,852 585,797 
			 200001 1,488,752 632,594 
			 200102 1,625,304 705,706 
			 200203 1,767,791 786,646 
		
	
	(31)   Computer tomography
	(32)   Magnetic resonance imaging:
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH12

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring is being undertaken by his Department to ensure that general practitioners continue to offer routine appointments beyond 48 hours if the patient chooses them, with particular reference to the GP access target.

John Hutton: Patients should be able to see a general practitioner within 48 hours if they want. Equally, patients should be able to pre-book appointments further ahead if this suits them. The former does not exclude the other and both options must be features of a modernised and responsive National Health Service.
	Arrangements for monitoring progress towards the NHS Plan primary care access target require primary care trusts to check that practices are allowing patients to book ahead. Local centres of the national primary care development team continue to work with primary care trusts and practices to ensure that this is the case.

Head Lice

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on guidelines regarding the control of head lice in schools.

Stephen Ladyman: Our policy, which is shared by the Department for Education and Skills, is to encourage a whole school approach to the detection and treatment of head lice. This entails encouraging parents to check their children and other family members for head lice as need arises, and arranging treatmenteither through a combing regime or insecticideswhere necessary with such advice and support from the local primary health care team (general practitioner, health visitor, school nurse or local pharmacist) as they may require. If this exercise is successfully undertaken at the same time by all parents of children within a school, then the spread of head lice can be controlled.

Health Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of (a) an electro-cardiogram, (b) a blood pressure test, (c) an electron beam tomography scan, (d) a lung function test, (e) a blood test, (f) a mammogram, (g) bowel cancer screening, (h) an X-ray and (i) a cervical smear test.

John Hutton: Current cost data, for the specified tests are detailed, where available. No data are available for blood pressure tests of lung function tests.
	(a) Electro-cardiogram or ECG.
	for tests undertaken as part of an out-patient consultation, the national average cost is 101.
	where the test is undertaken as a direct access test (general practitioner request), the national average cost is 29.48.
	(b) Electron beam tomography scan.
	No data are available centrally for this specific scan. Data are available for computer tomography scans, of which electron beam tomography is one type.
	CT scans, are undertaken in a wide range of specialties.
	the national average cost for CT scans undertaken in an outpatient setting range from 164-209 depending on specialty;
	the national average cost of a CT scan undertaken as a direct access test (GP request) is 102.
	(c) Blood test.
	These are undertaken in a variety of pathology specialties, depending upon the reason for undertaking the test. The national average cost of a blood test undertaken as a direct access test (GP request) is detailed by specialty as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Phlebotomy test 10.63 
			 General pathology test 1.72 
			 Chemical pathology test 2.48 
			 Haematology test 3.32 
			 Histology/Histopathology test 17.87 
			 Immunology test 7.45 
			 Microbiology/Bacteriology test 7.09 
			 Neuropathology test 14.00 
			 Virology test 7.82 
			 Biochemistry test 2.05 
			 Other test 5.43 
		
	
	(d) Mammogram.
	The cost of a mammogram undertaken in a direct access setting is 31.67.
	(e) Bowel Cancer screening.
	A faecal occult blood test (FOB) test for bowel cancer costs 5. 2 per cent. of all tests are positive and require a subsequent diagnostic colonoscopy, at a cost of 127.
	At present, the FOB test is being piloted with two sites.
	There is currently no national programme for bowel cancer screening.
	(f) X-ray.
	The national average cost for a direct access test (GP request) is 14.97 for a standard (Band A) X-ray.
	(g) Cervical smear test.
	The cost of a cervical smear test is 37.50 (uplifted for inflation from data source).
	Data sources:
	Items (a, b, c, d, f): National Schedule of Reference Costs Appendix 1, Payment by Results Core Tools Publication. The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	Item (e): The Evaluation of the UK Colorectal Cancer Screening PilotFinal Report, revised May 2003a report undertaken for the national screening programme.
	Item (g): The NAO report on the Performance of The NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England, published in 1998, and adjusted for inflation.

Health Services (Nottinghamshire)

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients waited for more than 13 weeks for outpatient appointments within Nottinghamshire health authority areas in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of outpatients waiting over 13 weeks from a general practitioner referral to consultant appointment, by provider, for the Nottinghamshire area
		
			  National health service trust Number 
		
		
			 199697 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 757 
			  Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust 0 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 7,939 
			  King's Mill Centre for Health Care Services NHS   Trust 0 
			  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 401 
			
			 199798 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 969 
			  Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust 325 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 10,063 
			  King's Mill Centre for Health Care Services NHS   Trust 2,672 
			  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 88 
			
			 199899 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 1,613 
			  Central Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 104 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 12,361 
			  King's Mill Centre for Health Care Services NHS   Trust 2,986 
			  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 3 
			
			 19992000 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 1,129 
			  Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust 925 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 6,738 
			  King's Mill Centre for Health Care Services NHS   Trust 2,164 
			  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 0 
			
			 200001 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 577 
			  Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust 76 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 4,923 
			  King's Mill Centre for Health Care Services NHS   Trust 1,364 
			  Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 7 
			
			 200102 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 624 
			  Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University   Hospital NHS Trust 2,234 
			  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust(33) 23 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust(34) 1,232 
			
			 200203 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 211 
			  Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University   Hospital NHS Trust 928 
			  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 7 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 896 
			
			 200304 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 106 
			  Queens Medical Centre Nottingham University   Hospital NHS Trust 284 
			  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust 1 
			  Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 346 
		
	
	(33)   ln April 2001 Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust became Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
	(34)   ln March 2001 the Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust was abolished, and Newark Hospital from the Central Nottinghamshire NHS Trust was combined with the King's Mill Centre for Healthcare Services NHS Trust to form Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust.
	Source:
	Department of Health QM08

Health Services (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a hip replacement operation in the Tamworth constituency was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: Data are not collected specifically for Tamworth,
	The table shows both the mean time waited and the median time waited for a hip operation for the population covered by Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust during 200203.
	
		Count of finished in-year admission episodes, mean and median time waited, national health service hospitals, England 200203
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Finished in-year admission episodes 164 
			 Mean time waited 199 days 
			 Median time waited 180 days 
		
	
	Notes:
	Main operation: hip replacement
	Method of admission: elective
	Finished In-Year Admissions
	A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data-year. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Ungrossed Data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Main Operation
	The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	Time Waited
	Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited, as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Health Services (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in the Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: Data are not collected specifically for Tamworth.
	The tables show the number of doctors and the number of nurses for the old South Staffordshire health authority, which covered the Tamworth constituency, from 1994 to 2001, and for Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust from 2001 to 2003.
	
		Hospitals, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) doctors(35)and general medical practitioners (excluding retainers)
		
			  South Staffordshire Health Authority Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust 
		
		
			 1994 642  
			 1995 653  
			 1996 681  
			 1997 709  
			 1998 731  
			 1999 759  
			 2000 713  
			 2001 762 82 
			 2002  86 
			 2003  94 
		
	
	(35)   Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are general practitioners (GPs) working part time in hospitals.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 199799.
	
		Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(36)
		
			  South Staffordshire Health Authority Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust 
		
		
			 1994   
			 1995 2,666  
			 1996 2,849  
			 1997 2,835  
			 1998 2,955  
			 1999 2,932  
			 2000 3,125  
			 2001 3,165 171 
			 2002  345 
			 2003  376 
		
	
	(36)   UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical services contracted GPs, and personal medical services salaried GPs.
	Notes:
	1. Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for these years.
	2. Data as at 30 September every year except practice nurses as at 1 October 199799.

Health Services (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) general practitioners' surgeries and (b) health clinics have been (i) modernised and (ii) removed to other premises in the Tamworth constituency since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The data are not available in the format requested.
	The table shows the number of primary care premises replaced and the number refurbished in the following areas since 2000: South Staffordshire Health Authority; North Staffordshire Health Authority; Shropshire Health Authority.
	Tamworth was within the former South Staffordshire Health Authority.
	These three organisations were replaced by Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority in 2002.
	
		Primary care premises replaced and refurbished
		
			  200001 200102 200203 Third quarter 200304 
			  Number of premises replaced Number of premises refurbished Number of premises replaced Number of premises refurbished Number of premises replaced Number of premises refurbished Number of premises replaced Number of premises refurbished 
		
		
			 South Staffordshire Health Authority 1 1 1 2 
			 North Staffordshire Health Authority 0 8 0 4 
			 Shropshire Health Authority 4 2 4 0 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic   Health Authority 4 8 2 7 
			 Totals 5 11 5 6 4 8 2 7 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health LDPR Quarterly Returns

Mobile/Wireless Communications

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether current research being carried out by the mobile telephone health research team at King's College London is examining mobile and wireless communications systems.

Melanie Johnson: The Link Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme is jointly funded by Government and industry. It currently supports about 20 projects under the management of an independent programme committee. One of these projects is being undertaken at the mobile phone research unit at King's College London. It is a study designed to examine whether mobile phone signals cause unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Details of the programme and each project currently funded can be found on the website www.mthr.org.uk

NHS Facilities

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether new facilities monitored by NHS Estates conform to design guidance with respect to the numbers of wash-hand basins; and what action his Department has taken to ensure compliance by new facilities that do not meet the requirements of the guidance.

John Hutton: NHS Estates guidance sets out recommendations concerning the provision of wash hand-basins in a number of differing circumstances.
	The exact number of wash-hand basins required in any particular situation will vary according to a variety of factors including the design and configuration of the room.
	Trust chief executives are responsible for ensuring that there are effective arrangements in place for infection control.

NHS Land

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last full inventory of land owned by (a) the NHS and (b) NHS trusts was carried out; and what steps he is taking to sell off unused excess land.

John Hutton: An independent valuation of all national health service property assets is undertaken every five years with the 2005 exercise nearing completion. Registers of such assets, including land, are held and continually updated by individual NHS bodies.
	Land and property identified as surplus to requirements is sold in accordance with departmental guidance given in Estatecode.
	An agreement in principle has been reached to transfer surplus land in the ownership of the Secretary of State for Health to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

NHS Staff

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1092W, on NHS staff, whether locums and those on temporary contracts are included in figures for NHS returnees.

John Hutton: Locums and those on temporary contracts are not included in the figures for national health service returners.

NHS Staff (Wirral, South)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Wirral South in each of the last seven years.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information available is shown in the table and relates to national health service organisations serving the South Wirral constituency.
	NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff in the specified organisations as at 30 September each specified year.
	
		headcount
		
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 5F8 Bebington and West Wirral PCT (37) (37) (37) (37) 4 60 65 
			 QDC Wirral HA (37) 2 2 6 9 (37) (37) 
			 RBL Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 497 512 530 541 540 554 570 
		
	
	(37)   Not applicable.
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

NHS Staff (Wirral, South)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of patients with suspected cancer in Wirral, South saw an NHS consultant within two weeks in each of the last seven years.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The earliest information available is shown in the table and relates to national health service organisations serving the South Wirral constituency.
	
		All cancer waiting times, selected NHS Trusts -- Urgent referrals received within 24 hours
		
			 Quarter ended Name Total referrals seen during the quarter Number of patients seen during the quarter by a specialist within 14 days of the decision to refer by their GP Number of patients seen during the quarter by a specialist after 14 days of the decision to refer by their GP Percentage compliance with the two week standard 
		
		
			 December 1999 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 110 74 36 67.3 
			 December 2000 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 138 117 21 84.8 
			 December 2001 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 611 608 3 99.5 
			 December 2002 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 696 558 138 80.2 
			 December 2003 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 810 807 3 99.6 
			 June 2000 Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust 190 176 14 92.6 
			 June 2001 Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust 1 1 0 100.0 
			 December 2003 Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Trust 1 1 0 100.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QMCW

Nurses Training

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to ensure thatnurse (a) training and (b) career pathways adequately reflect the need for specialist skills in care of the elderly.

John Hutton: The curriculum for nurse training is decided by higher education institutions in line with guidance from the regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
	Within the adult/general branch of nursing, undergraduate and diploma courses cover the nursing skills needed in the care of the elderly. Once qualified, nurses can undertake further specialist skills training in this area.
	We are continuing to implement current policies that support specialist and advanced role in the care of older people. These include the development of nurse consultant posts, nurses with special interests, nurse prescribing and leadership programmes.

Nutritional Supplements

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to EU officials on behalf of UK businesses in relation to plans for a draft Directive on nutritional supplements for sports competitors; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 24 May 2004
	A working document for a Directive on foods intended to meet the expenditure of intense muscular effort, especially for sports people, was issued by the European Commission in April 2004 and an expert working group was held on the 10 May 2004. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) represents the United Kingdom for this work and its officials attended the expert working group.
	The FSA has already had discussions with the industry about the draft Directive and will continue to do so as the negotiations progress.

Obese Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on promoting stomach stapling as a method for dealing with obesity problems in children.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 May 2004
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on surgery for morbid obesity advises that surgery should only be considered when there is evidence that all appropriate and available non-surgical measures have been adequately tried but have failed to maintain weight loss. In July 2002, the NICE published guidance on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity. The guidance recommends that surgery is only performed on people aged 18 and over.

Osteoporosis

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and treatment is offered to those patients who are identified as being at high risk of developing osteoporosis.

Stephen Ladyman: Patients identified as being at high risk of developing osteoporosis should be given advice on diet, exercise, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and reducing smoking. There are a range of treatment options which aim to provide pain relief, improve mobility and prevent further bone loss.

Palliative Care

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has for progressing the partnership between his Department, Marie Curie Cancer Care and other voluntary organisations in the field of palliative care with particular reference to (a) improving services for people who choose to die at home and (b) increasing the number of people who are able to die at home;
	(2)  what action he is taking to increase the number of terminally ill patients who are able to exercise their choice to die at home;
	(3)  what further plans he has for supporting choice in palliative care for cancer patients to meet the commitment given in the recent document, Building the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the potential savings to the NHS if more terminally ill people were given the choice of dying at home.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 20 May 2004
	Building on the Best commits the Department to improve care for people coming to the end of their lives by taking forward training programmes to ensure that all patients, regardless of their diagnosis, will have access to high quality palliative care.
	An additional total of 12 million investment over three years was announced by the Secretary of State on 26 December 2003. This additional money will widen the pool of staff who are trained in meeting the needs of people nearing the end of their lives. As a result more patients will be offered appropriate support in the setting of their choice.
	The cancer services collaborative is currently working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Relief, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network to support the implementation of specific end of life care tools. These tools, recommended in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer as examples of good practice, will be adapted to meet the needs of other patient groups.
	Over time this investment will result in greater choice for patients in where they wish to live and die and a decrease in the numbers of older people transferred from care homes to a district general hospital in the last week of life and emergency admissions of patients who expressly wish to die at home or care home.
	We are also currently identifying pilots to develop an integrated cancer care model for cancer patients shaped by users and involving health and social services and the voluntary sector. These pilots will specifically address issues about caring for patients at home and the possible reduction of costs of hospital services.

Personal Health Care

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to review cases to ensure that individuals are not incorrectly charged for personal health care;
	(2)  what the criteria are for initiating an investigation into cases of individuals incorrectly charged for personal health care;
	(3)  how many cases are being investigated of individuals who may have been incorrectly charged for personal health care in each local authority in England in each of the last six years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Continuing Care (National Health Service Responsibilities) Directions and the Delayed Discharges (Continuing Care) Directions, both published in February, should ensure appropriate assessments for fully funded national health service continuing care, whether it is prior to hospital discharge or in a community setting. All strategic health authorities have systems in place to review cases where individuals, or their families, feel they were inappropriately denied fully funded NHS continuing care and will investigate all cases brought to their attention. Information on the number of people who were wrongly denied NHS care since 1996 will be available once the data have been validated.

Positron Emission Tomography Scanners

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of positron emission tomography scanners in the early diagnosis of lung cancer; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the demand for positron emission tomography scans in the NHS;
	(3)  what plans he has to increase the number of positron emission tomography scanners in the NHS.

Melanie Johnson: Positron emission tomography (PET) is still a relatively new technology and there is evidence of its potential benefits in the diagnosis and treatment of a limited number of tumours, including lung cancer.
	The Department is currently working with the national health service, the clinical community and research stakeholders to develop a framework for the provision of PET scanners in England. This will set out, from the evidence, which tumour groups would benefit from PET scanning, likely future demand, and consider the optimal configuration and possible location of PET scanners in England. This will be sent out to stakeholders for consultation in early summer.
	It will be for local health communities to consider the framework when it is published and decide whether to adopt this technology based on local needs and circumstances.

Primary Care Trusts (Non-Clinical Staff)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-clinical staff were employed in each primary care trust in England at September 2003, broken down by grade.

John Hutton: Information on the number of staff employed by primary care trusts in non-clinical roles has been placed in the Library.

Public Bodies

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times a year the board of the NHS Information Authority is scheduled to meet; and on what date it last met.

John Hutton: The NHS Information Authority (NHSIA) is a National Health Service Special Health Authority. Its board meets monthly. The most recent meeting was on 6 May at the NHSIA offices in Birmingham. Board papers are published on the NHSIA website at www.nhsia.nhs.uk.
	The next meeting of the board will take place on 3 June 2004 at Grange Holborn Hotel, Southampton Row, London, at 2pm. In accordance with the NHS code of openness, board meetings are open to the public.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 12, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17 and (h) 18 years have suffered from each sexually transmitted infection in each of the last three years.

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many sexually transmitted infections were reported in young people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in England in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in young people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 in England was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in each year since 2000, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) strategic health authority, (ii) disease and (iii) sex; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(3)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Essex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(4)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were in the Essex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex;
	(3)  ow many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Essex Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex;
	(4)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 17 May 2004
	I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends, the Members for Workington (Tony Cunningham) and Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) today.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in West Cumbria Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were in the West Cumbria Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(3)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(4)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people of 19 years and under were reported in Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people of 19 years and under was in Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age;
	(3)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people 19 years and under in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age;
	(4)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people 19 years and under was in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age.

Melanie Johnson: The available information on rates of sexually transmitted infections in the age groups requested has been placed in the Library.
	The national strategy for sexual health and HIV (linking closely to the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy) identifies young people as a priority group for action to improve sexual health. The Government's 'Sex Lottery' and teenage pregnancy, 'Ruthinking' media campaigns are raising awareness among young people of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to avoid them. The Department is also tackling the most common STI through the national chlamydia screening programme, which already covers a quarter, or 84, of primary care trusts in England and is being rolled-out across the rest of the country. Sexual health has also been highlighted as an important area in the Choosing Health public health White Paper consultation, launched on 3 March.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex;
	(2)  what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Workington (Tony Cunningham) and Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) today.

Solvent Abuse

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in the NHS specialise in solvent abuse among children.

Melanie Johnson: The Department does not collect statistics on the number of staff in the national health service who specialise in solvent abuse among children.

Working Time Directive

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Working Time Directive and its effect on (a) doctors' hours and (b) the availability of doctors within the NHS.

John Hutton: The working time directive (WTD) is a legal requirement on which implementation is being taken forward locally. From 1 August, doctors in training will be required to work no more than 58 hours per week on average.
	Lessons from WTD pilot sites have demonstrated that compliance is best achieved through working differently using multi-disciplinary teams in line with the wider NHS modernisation agenda, rather than simply employing more doctors.

DEFENCE

Emergency Planning

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to provide training for (a) helicopter pilots in the armed forces and (b) civilian helicopter pilots to assist in an airlift operation in the event of a major emergency.

Adam Ingram: In preparation for operational deployments, military helicopter aircrews, both regular and reserve, are fully trained and equipped to meet a wide variety of contingencies. Their skills could be used for airlift operations in the event of a major emergency. The Ministry of Defence has no current plans to train civilian helicopter pilots.

Emergency Planning

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Government expect to be able to guarantee that the Civil Contingency Reaction Force communications system is compatible with the communications system used by the emergency services.

Adam Ingram: As part of the Government's wider strategy to improve communications in the event of an emergency or crisis, the armed forces have procured communications equipment that is compatible with that used by the emergency services. Use of the system is dependent on availability of the commercially provided network infrastructure. Initial capability is available now with full capability expected in April 2006.

Emergency Planning

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an Army standby unit is ready to help the emergency services immediately in the event of a serious national emergency.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces do not maintain units on standby specifically to respond immediately to a national emergency. Nonetheless, in the event of an emergency or crisis, and assuming the civil authorities asked for it, the armed forces would be able to provide support drawing on the most appropriate resources available at the time, which could include regular and Civil Contingency Reaction Force assets.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many scientists have come forward voluntarily since 16 July 2003 and approached the Iraq Survey Group with evidence of weapons of mass destruction and related programmes in Iraq; and when he next expects to present to Parliament an updated document of collated evidence.

Geoff Hoon: Some Iraqi civilians, including scientists, have approached the Iraq Survey Group with information. However, the Ministry of Defence does not hold exact figures.
	The Iraq Survey Group has produced two interim reports, in October 2003 and March 2004, and a further report is expected later this year.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 663W, on Iraq, what the names are of the two individuals whose deaths have been the subject of reports to the Army Prosecuting Authority.

Adam Ingram: Of the two cases in advanced stages of consideration only one relates to a death. The individual concerned is an Iraqi civilian named Hassan Abbad Saied.

Air Near-hit Incident (Gloucestershire)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action has been taken in respect of the aircrew involved in the near-hit incident reported on 4 April 2002 concerning a helicopter and the nuclear installations at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, as recorded in the report of the defence flying complaints investigation team at Henlow, dated 30 May 2002.

Ivor Caplin: Because the information requested will take a little time to retrieve, I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Al Yamamah Contracts

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed of allegations of corruption involving BAE Systems in connection with the Al Yamamah arms contracts which were drawn to the attention of Sir Kevin Tebbit in 2001.

Geoff Hoon: I first became aware of allegations of fraud against BAE Systems when they were published in the press in September 2003.

Army Barracks Death

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Minister of State for the Armed Forces received the Amnesty International Report, Army Barracks Death: Families Demand Justice (EUR 45/004/2003); and what his response was.

Adam Ingram: Amnesty International's Report, Army Barracks Death: Families Demand Justice was received on 18 June 2003. I replied to Halya Gowan of Amnesty International on 2 July 2003.

Army Medal Office (Droitwich)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what arrangements he has made to ensure the continued efficient operation of the Army Medal Office at Droitwich Spa in the period before its planned closure;
	(2)  if he will ensure the Army Medal Office at Droitwich Spa is able to (a) purchase equipment and (b) recruit staff in the period before the planned closure.

Ivor Caplin: As I said in my answer of 13 May 2004, Official Report, column 556W, the phased closure of the Army Medal Office is part of a risk reduction strategy aimed at minimising disruption to medal service delivery. The work currently in hand to support that strategy includes an analysis of the benefits for service delivery of early equipment purchase and staff recruitment either at Droitwich or at Innsworth. Where such action is cost-effective, to assist in the smooth transfer of responsibilities and reduce the impact on service delivery, it will be done.

Army Medal Office (Droitwich)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will visit the Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa to discuss its proposed closure with the staff.

Ivor Caplin: I have no plans to do so at the present time, but will consider the matter further later in the year.

Army Medal Office (Droitwich)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2004, Official Report, column 555W, on Defence Medal Offices, over what period the closure of the Army Medal Office will be phased.

Ivor Caplin: Detailed work on an implementation timetable cannot begin until the staff preference exercise has been concluded at the end of this month. That work will need to take into account the risk reduction strategies that are currently being developed.
	It is not expected that a detailed implementation plan will be available until early autumn.

Army Medal Office (Droitwich)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 328W, on the Defence Medal Office, when he will place in the Library a copy of the Investment Appraisal for the proposed closure of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich Spa.

Ivor Caplin: A copy of the Investment Appraisal was placed in the Library on 20 May 2004.

Defence Bases

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department does not keep figures for the current number of (a) service and (b) civilian personnel based at (i) RAF Leeming, (ii) RAF Linton on Ouse, (iii) AAC Dishforth and (iv) Alanbrooke Barracks; and whether his Department has figures for the current number of (A) service and (B) civilian personnel at other defence establishments in the United Kingdom.

Ivor Caplin: Although individual Defence installations may hold some of this information at a local level, location statistics for Service Personnel are produced centrally by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA). This is done by allocating individuals to a unit based on record of service data, and allocating the unit to a location based postal address. DASA are currently reviewing the source data and process by which these statistics are compiled. The target date for the completion of the review is December 2004. The most recently published location statistics are given in the July 2002 TSP10 publication, which is available in the House of Commons Library. New figures will not be available until the review is complete.
	Information on civilians is regularly published by DASA at Government Office Region level where it is believed the data are of sufficient quality. Individual defence installations may hold data at a local level, but centralised systems are not able to provide a reliable breakdown to this level of detail. Individual defence installations do not routinely publish civilian data as different organisations and agencies are responsible for the same location or site.

Emergency Evacuation (Greater London)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters are available in the Greater London area for use in emergency evacuation of people who may be injured in a terrorist attack in London.

Adam Ingram: No military helicopters are dedicated to the task of evacuating people who might be injured in a terrorist attack in London. However, there are a number of military helicopters based in the vicinity of Greater London that could be made available to assist the civil authorities if necessary.

Joint Strike Fighter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Joint Strike Fighter's ability to take off from warships, with particular reference to (a) its expected performance in combat, (b) the final cost, (c) who is liable for the cost of reconfiguring the aircraft, (d) the final in service date and (e) the reasons for not identifying the take off problems earlier.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 May 2004, Official Report, column 221W to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch). The weight issue impacts most significantly on the landing and take off characteristics of the aircraft, while its combat performance is currently predicted to meet the original requirements. The potential for weight growth was identified at the time of the decision to select the variant, and this, in conjunction with our intention to maximise the flexibility of use of the future carriers (CVF) over their life, influenced our decision to opt for an 'adaptable' design for CVF.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 11 May 2004, Official Report, column 219W, regarding the projected final cost of the System Demonstration and Development phase of JSF. Under the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding, the non-US partners in the programme are not bound to contribute to cost increases.
	The Future Joint Aircraft in service date, based on current planning assumptions, is 2012.

Medals

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the case for awarding an Arctic medal was last reviewed; by whom it was done; at whose request; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: A review of the case for the retrospective institution of a new medal specifically to recognise wartime service in Arctic waters was carried out by the Ministry of Defence earlier this year at the request of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
	The conclusion of that review remained that there was no case that could or should be put to the HD Committee for an Arctic Convoy Medal and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House on 1 March 2004, Official Report, column 595W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr Allen).

Medals

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 26 April 2004, Official Report, column 728W, to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler) on the Suez Medal, what practical constraints limit the issuing of the Suez Canal Zone General Service Medal; and if he will establish a timetable for the completion of distribution to current applicants.

Ivor Caplin: The constraints are numbers of trained personnel, availability of machinery and funding. It is not practical to establish a timetable for Canal Zone medal applications as each case is unique and it is not possible to say in advance how long it will take to determine each applicant's eligibility for the medal.

Merlin Helicopters

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Merlin helicopters have been (a) ordered, (b) purchased, (c) delivered and (d) brought into full service for the Royal Navy since the decision was first made to purchase the Merlin.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 21 May 2004
	A total of 44 Merlin Mk1 aircraft have been ordered, purchased and delivered to the Ministry of Defence. 39 helicopters have entered service with the Royal Navy, of which two have been subsequently lost as a result of accidents. The remaining five helicopters are currently being used as trials and development aircraft.

Merlin Helicopters

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original budget was and (b) the total cost has been of purchasing and fully commissioning the Merlin helicopter for the Royal Navy, both as (i) a total amount and (ii) an amount per aircraft in service.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 21 May 2004
	The original budget allocated to the Merlin Mk1 programme was 1.1 billion (VAT inclusive) at 1982 prices. Since that time our requirement has matured and as a result the programme has changed considerably. The final cost of purchasing and commissioning the Merlin Mk1 fleet of 44 aircraft was just over 4.6 billion (VAT inclusive), which equates to approximately 105 million per helicopter.

Missile Defence Interceptor Sites

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US authorities about basing missile defence interceptor sites in the UK.

Geoff Hoon: The Ministry of Defence continues to discuss with the United States a wide range of ballistic missile defence issues. The Government have not yet decided whether the United Kingdom requires its own missile defence, and these discussions do not therefore involve specific architectures or basing assumptions.

Nuclear Power Stations

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the rights of (a) RAF and (b) US Air Force aircraft to fly over (i) nuclear power stations and (ii) residential areas; and what breaches of such rules there have been in the past six months in (A) the United Kingdom and (B) Gloucestershire.

Adam Ingram: Both Royal Air Force and United States Air Force aircraft operate with the same restrictions in respect of overflights of nuclear installations and residential areas. Nuclear installations are to be avoided by a radius of two nautical miles from a fixed centre-point or a height of 2,000 ft, by all types of aircraft. In respect of residential areas we grant avoidances in the United Kingdom military low-flying system to towns with a population of 10,000 or more, as well as everything within certain major avoidance areas. Towns granted avoidances are to be overflown at not less than 1,000 ft by helicopters, and not less than 2,000 ft by fixed wing aircraft. Since the beginning of November 2003 the following breaches of regulations have been established.
	
		
			 Date Place Nuclear Town UK Gloucestershire 
		
		
			 17 November 2003 Dungeness, Kent (38)  (38)  
			 26 November 2003 Berkeley, Gloucestershire (38)   (38) 
			 8 January 2004 Bath  (38) (38)  
		
	
	(38)   Breach
	In addition, the following alleged breaches are still under investigation.
	
		
			 Date Place Nuclear Town UK Gloucestershire 
		
		
			 21 January 2004 Holmfirth, Lancashire  (39) (39)  
			 10 February 2004 Swansea  (39) (39)  
			 18 February 2004 Teignmouth, Devon  (39) (39)  
		
	
	(39)   Alleged breach

Offshore Wind Farms

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to reduce the proportion of applications for planning permission for offshore wind farms to which his Department lodges objections.

Ivor Caplin: Departmental policy must be to maintain the integrity of operations, safety and the nation's defence systems. Objections are only raised when any proposed development would affect these key criteria. It is the Department's stated aim, wherever possible, to assist developers of wind farms, both on-shore and off-shore, to find solutions that will enable a development to proceed to the satisfaction of all parties.

Operation Telic

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements have been made to systems for combat identification in the light of experience gained from Operation Telic.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence remains committed to improving combat effectiveness and minimising casualties by improving Combat Identification (ID). We already have a continuing programme to support our Armed Forces' Combat ID capability through investment in equipment, training and the continuous review of tactics, techniques and procedures. Following warfighting operations in Iraq the Department undertook a comprehensive review of Combat ID to identify the scope for improvements that could be made. As they become available, lessons from operations in Iraq will inform our approach to all elements of Combat ID capability.
	In addition to our programme of continuous improvement and as a direct result of United Kingdom experience during the warfighting phase of Op. Telic, we have continued to deploy in theatre the United States Blue Force Tracking equipment. We have also provided air and ground platforms with systems that support identification in theatre. In addition, we are working on an agreement with the US for the exchange of information on situational awareness systems. Combat Identification devices for vehicles procured under Urgent Operational Requirement arrangements are also being used in routine training.

Radar Reflection (Aircraft)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he is offering to manufacturers of windmill blades in overcoming problems of radar reflection on military aircraft.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 20 May 2004
	The Department of Trade and Industry in association with the Ministry of Defence, the Civil Aviation Authority and British Wind Energy Association, through the Wind Energy, Defence and Civil Aviation Interests Working Group have commissioned Qinetiq to investigate the feasibility of developing wind turbine blades that would be invisible to radar. The Department is also aware, through the same Group, that Sheffield University is investigating the technology for development of similar wind turbine blades. Additionally, the working group hopes to test software technology that can be applied to radar to mitigate some of the effects that are caused by wind turbine blades. MOD expects, in due course, to take a major role in testing this technology. MOD officials are available to meet with any manufacturers of wind turbine blades to discuss radar issues.

Rifleman Miller

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken against those responsible for the attack upon Rifleman Miller of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets in Ballykinler Barracks, County Down on 10 April.

Adam Ingram: The alleged attack upon Rifleman Miller of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets at Ballykinler, County Down on 10 April 2004 is still under investigation by the Royal Military Police. Until this investigation is completed and its recommendations considered it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter.

Royal Military Police

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the internal process is for the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch to evaluate the investigation of cases in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness; and what computer records are kept of conclusions drawn from internal evaluation.

Adam Ingram: Headquarters Provost Marshal (Army) (HQ PM (A)) audits investigations to identify lessons learnt to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of investigations, and to improve the awareness of those who conduct, manage or supervise Royal Military Police investigations.
	Additionally, Technical Evaluation Inspections are routinely conducted by the HQ PM (A) Inspectorate, to examine investigative processes and procedures and to conduct quality control audits of investigations conducted.
	All Audit and Technical Evaluation Inspection reports are held on file at HQ PM (A), some electronically.

Support Vehicles

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has received from the United States embassy on behalf of US companies for the support vehicles contract; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We are support vehicle not aware of any representations from the United States embassy regarding the contract.

Typhoon Programme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much he estimates it will cost the United Kingdom to convert the Typhoon for a ground attack role.

Adam Ingram: The Eurofighter Typhoon was planned from the outset to be a multi-role aircraft with an initial ground attack capability, progressively benefiting from enhancement to this and other capabilities as part of an incremental acquisition programme. The cost of these enhancements is currently being discussed as part of the wider, ongoing Tranche 2 negotiations. These negotiations could be prejudiced by the disclosure of cost estimates.

UN Operations

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British Forces will be subject to Iraqi law following the handover of power on 30 June 2004.

Geoff Hoon: Following the assumption of authority by the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June, the intention is that the Multi-National Force including United Kingdom forces will continue to be granted immunity from prosecution under local law. The precise means of achieving this are still under consideration. Members of the Multi-National Force will continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of their sending states.

UN Operations

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which branch of the UK military are responsible for the running of prisons in Iraq; who is the head of this branch; and to whom he is responsible for making reports.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's only detention facility in Shaibah is currently being run by 1st Regiment Royal Highland Fusiliers, with members of the Military Provost, who report to the Commander Multi-National Division (South East).

Young Service Personnel

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many 16 to 18-year-olds are serving in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy, broken down by sex.

Ivor Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to TSP (Tri Service Publication) 8: Age Distribution of UK Regular Forces at 1 April 2004.
	This was published on 19 May 2004 and copies are available in the Library of the House.